y^t  l^  ^ 


pRICE  10  CENTS 


mmm 


Simmons,  the  Union  scout,  facing  death  among  the  flames  at  Predericksburs, 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


BATTERY  BOB ; 

OR. • 

Crest  and  Plain  at  Fredericksburg. 


BY    ANTHOSr   P.  MORRIS. 


ith  iu 


CHAPTER 


We  begin  our  narratiTe  at  a  time  shortly 
subsequent  to  the  abortive  attempt  ol  the 
Confederate  General  Lee  to  invade  the 
North  by  way  of  Harper's  Ferry  and  the 
Antietam. 

The  reader  of  history  will  remember  how 
General  MeClellan,  then  the  idol  of  the  army 
whiehhisown  hands  and  gen  ins  had  fash- 
ioned, while  not  winning  a  positive  victory 
over  the  hostile  forces,  at  least  checked  the 
bold  advance  of  the  gray-clad  host,  and. 
Anally,  after  one  of  the  most  bloody  battles 
destined  to  figure  in  the  after  records  of  the 
war,  drove  hisnntagouist  back  over  the  gory 
ground  into  the  hilly  shelters  of  Virginia. 

Scarcely  had  the  brave  commander  of  the 
Union  troopsaccorapllshed  this  cheering  ob- 
iect,  when  the  following  well-remembered 
dispatch  was  bi ought  to  him  by  General 
Buckingham,  post  haste  from  Washington, 
and  handed  to  him  at  Rectortowu,  while  in 
pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy  : 


By  direction  of  the  President c 
Is  urdered  that  Major-general  : 

that  Major-general  Burnside   li 


forth. 


rief  ' 


essor  to  Gen- 
qualiflcation 
I  suddenly  de- 
areer  as  such 


the  loveliest  girls  that  could  be  met 
that  section. 

Ethel  Cobbs  was  a  tall,  dark-eyed,  raven- 
haired  beauty  of  eiirlitepn  years— though  ap- 
pearing of  ..v.u   „unv  womanly  age-of  flue 

"iter  taiiic  fnr  l.'\  <  linnss,  and  as  the  hostess 
of  the  old  tavern  was  second  to  the  notoriety 
of  her  father  only,  and  pure  as  beautiful  was 
she  known  to  be.  ^     ,    ,  „    . 

But  no  guests  stopped  now  at  Cobbs  Rest, 
nor  had  they  for  many  a  day  since  the  rum- 
ble of  war  ruug  up  its  sullen  echoes  on  the 
soil  of  Virginia. 

Father  and  daughter  were  comparatively 
alone  there,  the  old  man  being  e.xempt,  be- 
cause of  his  iuflrmity,  from  serving  iu  the 
army  of  a  cause  that  was  dear  to  his  heart. 

On  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth  of  No- 
vember, 1862,  Silas  Cobbs  was  walking  un- 
restedly  to  and  f.o  across  the  ricketty  porch 
of  his  tavern,  his  wooden  stump  thumping 
rapidly  on  the  planking. 

Anon  his  watery  gray  eyes  roved  afar  to 
the  north  and  along  the  line  of  railroad  in 
the  way  of  a  man  who  momentarily  expects 
to  make  an  unpleasant  discovfry. 

And  anon  he  nuiti.i.  d  an  almost  inco- 
herent jumble  ..t    ".  iHs  iilHMit  --iankees. 

In  thein'idst  otMhW.  Iiis  d':ni;.-liler appeared 
in  the  the  broad  ,]...„  «ay-;i 


■  author 


who  was  a  child  <i 
further  tliat  li.  r  i 
ment  was  like  tli 
being  earthly,  v.; 
contours,  all  radi; 
bined  a  natural  f. 
beamed  and  seeme 


rof  quiik  r 
iurpinc,  fa 


[idde 


I"-'JP 


trnin  that  day  at  K.ctortown  until  the  ac- 
ceplaiH  (■  of  liis  1  (-situation  by  President  Lin- 
ci'lii,  spt-aks  plainly  for  itself. 

The  ('i.nfedi-iatcleader,  Jackson,  was  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley;  Luiigstreet  was  at  Cul- 
pepper. The  forces  of  Lee,  after  the  havoc 
and  letieat  of  the  Antietam,  were  sadly  di- 
vided; when  suddenly  the  southern  host 
found  themselves  '•  let  alone,"  as  itwere,for 
the  army  of  Burnside  was  hardly  to  be  seen, 
Lee  had  to  turn  in  surprise  and  go  in  search 
of  the  foe  that  had  been  pursuing  him. 

Having  abandoned  the  well-laid  plans  of 
the  commander  who  had  preceded  him, 
Burnside  was  then  making  for  Richmond  by 
the  line  of  Fredericksburg. 

In  pursuance  of  the  orders  from  the  new 
commander,  Sumner's  grand  division  was 
now  ou  the  march,  his  objective  point  being 
the  town  of  Falmouth,  opposite  Fredericks- 
burg, where  a  crossing  of  the  Rappahanock 
was  intended  to  be  effected. 

Ascertainingthemovementsof  his  foe.  Gen- 
eral Lee  resolved  to  plant  himself  directly 
in  his  path  and  give  stern  battle;  to  further 
which,  he  soon  had  both  Jackson  and  Long- 
street  marching  swiftly  toward  the  city  by 
the  river. 

With  these  brief  explanations  in  premise 
of  the  thrilling  events  to  follow  as  an  ad- 
junct to  the  memorable  campaign,  we  now 
proceed  to  the  drama  of  persons  whose  ad- 
ventures and  plots  are  of  a  kind  to  escape 
the  attention  of  the  prosy  historian  in  his 
search  after  mere  absolute  facts. 

Upon  a  gradual  slope,  amid  the  hills  at  the 
north  of  Falmouth,  was  what  had  been 
known,  thrnughout  a  long  period  before  the 
war,  as  "  Coblis'  Rest." 

A  very  large  and  roomy  building  that  had 
held  many  a  Southern  planter  in  previous 
years  as  its  gue>t,  and  which  had  attaineii  a 
popularity  as  a  comfortable  abiding  place 
for  the  weary  traveler. 

Old  Silas  Cobbs  had  fairly  grown  up  with 
the  trees  around  the  tavern  that  was  now 


They  art 
dogs  iu  blue 

I  be  swarmiuf 

II  the  air  with 
ell  forme,  my 
ukees;  I  hate 
IS— both  smell 
i !  why  didn't 
ion?"  and  the 
er  the  porch. 


e>.     in 


CHAPTER  II. 

DISGUISED   LOVER. 

hial  at  the  well  presented  a 
.lipl  apjiearance. 
IV  ere  of  I  lie  siKibbicst,  lU  luauy 
d  in  ]i;Lleli  over  patch;  his 
riaiii  I  uloi-  were  rammed  care- 
a  pair  of  high  boots 
lit  of  falling  from  his 


his. 


ixty 


"No— no,  mv  child—: 
even  puff  the  old  pipe, 
ing,  and— bah!— I  can't  1 
coming  this  way,  the  de^ 
And  thethou^'ht  Hiat  tli 
about  here  seems  ahead} 
a  bad  smell ;  yes  a  very  1 
child,  for  I  tell  you  1  ha 
Yankees,  and  the  smell  e 
alike  to  me.  I'luph!  Ba 
they  choose  some  otlu-r 
wooden  stump  thumped 
and  his  bald  pate  shook.  ,.    -        ,    , 

their  white,  raspy  beard  surrounding,  splut- 
tered in  an  ireful  manner. 

A  minute's  silence  ensued. 

But  in  that  brief  space  Ethel  ,wa3  think- 

"  ile  hates  Yankees ;  and  I  love  them— 
love  one,  at  least,  and  to  see  whom  at  this 
moment  I  would  willingly  pay  any  price. 
Perhaps  I  shall  see  him  soon,  lor  I  think  he 
is  with  this  army  that  the  riders  who  passed 
here  yesterday  for  Fredericksburg  said  was 
coining.  I  have  prayed  ever  since  the  re- 
ceipt of  that  piece  of  news,  that  Heaven 
would  be  kind  enough  to  let  me  feel  once 
more  the  dear,  true  embrace  of  Robert 
Ross " 

Her  thoughts  were  interrupted  by  the  ab- 
rupt appearance  of  asmallnegro  boy  around 
one  corner  of  the  porch. 

His  black  face  was  spread  in  a  broad  grin 
that  showed  nearly  every  white  tooth  lu  his 
head,  and  his  eves  rolled  sound  and  round 

"  Hi !  Massa  Cobbs.    Oh  !  yah— yah !" 

Cobbs  wheeled  on  him. 

"  Hello !  what's  the  matter,  you  imp  ?" 

"Oh!  hi-yi! 'and  the  darky  rolled  over 
on  the  ground,  convulsed  with  laughter. 

Cobbs  was  in  no  mood  forlnonsense. 

He  thumi)ed  across  the  porch,  and  arriv- 
in"  within  striking  distance  of  the  black,  he 
reached  to  smite  him  with  the  knotty  cane 
which  he  invariably  carried. 

Agilely  the  little  fellow  avoided  the  stroke, 
crying: 

"  Don't  welt  me,  Massa  Cobbs 

"What  are  you  laughing  at,  you  imp,  I 
say?" 

"Why,  jes'  de  funnies'  thmgyou  ever  seen. 
Oh,  hi!    Man    wiv  a  hump  on  hees  back- 
seemed  like  it  growed  dar  mo' an'   mo' tell 
hit  am  bigger  dan  de  man  hisself— yah,  yah! 
"A  man?— where?"  . 

"Down  dar  by  de  well  a  helpin'  of  hisself 
to  a  drink." 

Down  from  the  porch  strode,  or  rather 
I  hol.liird,  the  old  man  to  obtain  a  view  of  a 
I  i.er>en  wlin  could   excite  so   much 


lessly  into  the  tops 
that  seemed  on  the  _ 
feet  ere  he  could  walk  another  mile;  the 
glazed  rim  of  acap  of  half  army  pattern  was 
loose  at  one  side,  and  hung  ludicrously  down 
over  one  eye  that  glittered  brightly  with 
the  other  over  a  pair  of  very  red  cheeks;  but 
his  coat  did  not  partake  so  much  of  the  as- 
pect of  poverty  which  was  so  striking  to  the 
observer. 

Beneath  the  coat  was  a  monstrous  hump, 
and  the  back  of  the  coat  seemed  to  have 
been  manufactured  in  flaps,  probably  for  the 
greater  comfort  of  the  hump,  which  waa 
much  larger  than  the  humps  usually  seen  m 
similar  deformities. 

When  he  had  satisfied  his  thirst,  the  man 
who  had  eyed  Cobbs  over  the  rim  of  the 
bucket,  exclaimed  : 

"Hullo!" 

Colilis  saw  in  him  only  some  wayfarer  who> 
had  not,  possibly,  a  penny  in  the  world. 
More,  he  was  inclined  to  believe  him  to  be 
some  vagabond  who  would  not  hesitate  tO' 
rob  the  tavern  in  some  way  it  permitted  to 
loiter  near.  . 

"Hullo,  yourself!"  he  returned,  raspingly 
gruff.    "  \V^ho  are  you  ?" 

"tlh,  I'm  only  a  belated  traveler." 

"  Belated— yes,  I  reckon  so.  Well,  have 
you  had  your  drink  ?"  " 

"Yes.  and  much  obliged,  if  you're  the 
boss.    That's   flrst-rate    water   in    the    well 


markeil.tohidehismistortunein  the  wearing 
of  an  artificial  leg. 

For  years  he  had  been  known  as  "  one- 
legged  Cobbs." 

And  Cobbs  had  been  married  in  his  time 
the  fruits  of  which   could  be  seen  in  one  of 


danced  Coal,  still  grinnic 
eek  the  laughter  which  had 
jif   down   ou   his  back   able 


d    I  lie   corner 


huge  balance  pole 


f  the  house, 
■lew  of  the  well 
he  paused,  him- 


here." 

He  advanced  toward  Cobbs. 

"  Then  if  you've  had  your  drink,  be  off." 

"  Be  off?"  halt  pausing  in  astonishment. 

"That's  what  I  said." 

"  But  I  want  to  stop  right  here." 

"The dogs  you  do!" 

"This  is  Cobbs'  tavern,  isn't  it?" 

"  Yes ;  that's  my  name.  But  I  don't  want 
anybody  sleeping  about  my  stable  and  barn, 
and  I  won't  have  it.    So  get  along " 

"Stable  and  barn  !"  broke  in  the  hump- 
backed traveler.    "  Why,  what  are  you  talk- 
ing  about.    I  never  thought  of  sleeping  in  a  • 
barn  in  my  life." 

"  You  didn't  ?  You've  been  accustomed  to 
the  best  the  hotels  can  afford,  I  reckon, 
haven't  you?"  half  sneered  the  inn-keeper. 

"  Well,  yes,  when  they  had  it  to  offer  a 
man.  I  heard  that  you  kept  a  good  place  be- 
fore the  war ;  and  as  you  haven't  moved 
since  I  suppose  you've  got  all  the  old  accom- 


Had  his  «  ateiy  eiiis  l)eeii  i-iipable  of  a  lit- 
tle keener  (iisei'i'un,eiit,  he  w  euld  have  dis- 
covered that  the  redness  on  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  man's  cheek's  was  paint,  an  art- 
ful make  up  of  a  disguise  of  some  sort,  in 
which,  perhaps,  the  very  hump  upon  Ins 
back  was  a  part. 

"See  here,  have  you  got  any  money  ? 

"  Money!  why,  I'm  just  loaded  down  with 
it.  Look  at  that,"  displaying  a  bright  ten 
dollar  gold-piece.  "  Did  you  think  I  was  go- 
ing to  stop  at  Cobbs'  Rest,  an'  no  money  to 

■■If  you  did,  you  were  mistaken,  that's 
all,"  was  the  quick  rejoinder,  though  his 
tone  moderated  somewhat  as  he  perceived 
that  this  strangely  attired  personage  was 
prepared  to  pay  for  the  accommodations  or 
the  inn. 

And  he  added : 

■■  If  j-ou'ie  going  to  make  a  stop  with  me, 
come  this  way.  1  haven't  had  much  busi- 
ness since  the  war,  and  what's  more,  I  don't 
care  for  it." 

Notwithstanding   he  had  seen  the  ready 
money  for   such  hospitalities  as  his  hoi 
could  extend,  he  seemed  to  dislike  to  adc 
the  comer  therein,  and  it   was  not  with 
very  good  grace  that  he  said  to  Ethel,  as  the 
two  came  around  and   ascended   the  porch 
where  she  was  still  standing. 

■■  Ethel,  see  that  a  room  is  prepared  tor 
this  "—he  almost  gulped  the  word,  but  could 
not  forget  his  old-time  custom  of  address— 
"this  gentleman.  Come  into  my  ofliee,  sir, 
and  put  your  name  down." 

The  office  was  a  dingy  apartment  that  ivaa 
more  of  a  bar-room  than  anything  else, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  Ethel's  constant  at- 
tention   to  the  old    house,    this  apartmem 


/^^f 


THE  WAR  IIBHARY. 


Mpeeially  would  have  lapsed  iuto  a  sad  ' 
lition. 

Tlie  low  windows  did  uot  admit  sufiScieut 

ght  for  a  person  to  writB  with  any  Isiud  of 
itisfaction,  and  Cobbs  pror*eded  to  light  a 
candle  when  he  had  stepped  behind  the 
hich  he  held  forward  with  one 
land,  while  he  shoved  a  monstrous  book  out 
o  the  edge  where  there  was  a  rusty  pen  and 
in  almost  dry  inkstand. 

Without  a  word  further,  the  traveler 
vrote  his  name : 

"Sam  HoNDiTin  (At  Large). 
At   Large,"    read    Cobbs     aloud,    as    he 
Haneed  at  the  seraggly  autograpli.    "  What 
he  dogs  do  you  mean  l>y  that  '  .\t  Lnrge?'  " 

"Why.  I  repiesent  two  or  three  liwellilliX 
laees.  ami  a-;  1  Idvc  t-vni  y  sp(.t  nt  my  diilil- 

OOd,  I  killil  .'1  -dl  liT(.<l,  SMllic-  lllii.'  il;.'., 
.iclsingc.ut  wIm,I,  .m..  IM  lu^  .-  \\„-  \„~l  :,<„] 
lairafor  a  lioiii,.,  ,i,,,rt  vmi  s.-:'  s,.  |  ju>t 
utitdowu  'At  Luiiie;'-  It  .i..rsiri  in, ike 
my  diffeieuce  where  1  came  from,  aiiyliow, 
0  long  as  I  pav  my  hill  iu  advaiue.  dues  it  ?" 

"  No— all  ri;;l>t.  In  ailvau.-e— yes,  I  aUvays 
equire  payment  in  ad  vaiiee  from  strangers." 

And  while  he  was  rubbing  his  Augers  over 
he  blotter  above  the  name,  he  asked : 

"  How  long  will  you  stay  ?" 

"May  be  a  week." 

"  Pel  visions  is  scarce  jnst  about  now,  with 
he  drain  on  the  country  for  army  supplies , 
erms  tor  a  week  ain't  what    they  used  to 

"  O^,  that's  all  right.  Here's  an  eagle. 
Vill  that  pay  for  it?  Or,  if  you  want  more, 
ay  so." 

Jnst  then  Ethel  entered. 

"The  gentleman's  room  is  already  pre- 
lared,  father." 

The  ej  es  of  the  solitary  guest  were  fixed 
Qtently  on  the  girl ;  then  they  suddenly 
Doked  forth  through  the  low  window  that 
ommauded  the  bend  in  the  road  that  wound 
lefore  the  hostlery. 

He  saw  approaching  several  horseman  who 
ode  at  a  galloping  pace  and  in  disordered 
rray. 

All  wore  suits  of  gray. 

Instantly  he  said  to  Ethel  : 

"  I'll  go  right  up,  miss,  and  much  obliged 
o  you,"  stepping  toward  her. 

"Hold  on,"  said  Cobbs.  "Board  ain't  so 
anch  as  all  that,  in  good  gold,  too.  I'm 
nlyj3hargin'  eight  dollars " 

"Nevermind;  give  me  the  change  some 
ther  time.  Wdl  you  show  me  where  my 
com  is,  miss?" 

"  Follow  me,  sir." 

She  led  the  way  to  an  apartment  in  the 
ipper  story  where  the  bed,  with  its  snowy 
inen,  formed  an  inviting   contrast  to  the 


ble,  sir 

Her  speech  was  checked  most  singularly, 
,nd  in  a  way  that  would  have  appalled  al- 
uost  any  young  g;rl  but  this  child  of  the 
tills. 

Sam  Honditch  glanced  along  the  semi- 
lark  corridor,  to  make  sure  that  no  others 
rere  present  there. 

Then  he  threw  both  arms  around  the  girl 
n  a  tight  embrace. 

For  an  instant  she  was  astounded  to 
peechlessness. 

In  another  moment  it  would  have  gone 
mrd  with  the  man,  for  with  a  rapid  move- 
uKTit  slie  arew  a  revolver  from  her  bosom 
iiid  lia  1  it  pressed  against  his  face,  the  ham- 

H.r  dark  eyes  flashed. 

I'here  was  that  iu  the  tire  of  her  glance 
bat   tnlil  she  felt    no  fear,  neither  did  she 

emn  it  necessary  to  call  for  help. 

ludeed,  if  Honditch's  action  had  meant 
larm  to  her.  he  was  promptly  balked,  and 
astead,  his  life  was  at  her  mercy. 

Coolly  she  said  : 

"Remove  your  arms,  sir.  Hesitate  one 
lecond,  and  yon  die 


del! 


"  Ethel!"  he  repeated. 

Then  the  weapon  was  lowered  from  his 
:ace,  and  she  exclaimed,  in  an  incredulous 
;one : 

"Robert!  can  this  be  you?" 

"I,  darling.  Ah,  you  did  not  forget  my 
foice,  though  even  your  dear  eyes  could  uot 
pierce  this  disguise.  One  kiss,  love,"  and 
ivliile  she  still  stood,  gaziug  searchingly, 
Jotibtingly,  into  the  disguised  face  of  the 
lo^er  who  had  been  in  her  thoughts  so  short- 
ly before,  he  leaned  and  folded  her  to  him, 
kissing  the  red  lips  that  were  not  averted 
from  him, 
81 


ask  that,  when  you  know  I  belong 
to  the  Yankee  army,  and  am  iu  the  enemy's 
country?  Ay,  I  am  even  now  pursued. 
Listen :  do  you  hear  those  horsehoots  sound- 
ing out  in  the  road  ?" 

"The'  riders    are    coming    here,   I    tijink. 
They  are  in  pursuit  of  mr.     1  h;iv  •  1  r-n  into 


meut  that  may  itsult  lu  your  death,"  she 
broke  in,  quickly,  as  the  sound  of  the  ap- 
proaching riders  grew  louder  without. 


CHAPTER  III. 

HOUNDING   DOWN   A  SPY. 

Robert  Ross  and  Ethel  Cobbs  had  met  at  a 
time  when  the  former  was  a  guest  of  the  old 
tavern  keeper,  and  au  acquaintance  formed 
then  had  indnied  the  young  man  to  tarry 
there  until  at  last  he  had  honorably  won  the 
affection  of  the  girl. 

To  have  made  Silas  Cobbs  aware  of  the 
circumstance  of  their  love,  however,  wonld 
have  resulted  disastrously,  perhaps,  to  their 
hopes,  as  Ethel  had  said  he  would  surely 
send  her  away  beyond  all  possibility  of  the 
lover  finding'her,  so  averse  was  he  to  young 
people  loving,  and  she  was  then,  in  his  opin- 
ion, far  too    young  to   entertain    any  such 

Hence,  with  mutual  vows  of  fealty,  they 
separated,  with  the  understanding  that  Rob- 
ert should  return  soou  again,  prepared  to 
take  her  from  her  home  to  one  which  he 
would  provide  iu  the  North. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  war  had  prevented 
the  carrying  out  of  this  secret  plan  ;  she  had 
not  seen  him  since  that  time  of  his  depart- 
ure, which  was  shortly  previous  to  the  vote 
of  Virginia  which  placed  her  with  the  se- 
ceeding  states. 

He  had  managed,  however,  to  communi- 
cate with  her  occasionally,  and  by  this  means 
she  had  learned  that  he  was  with  the  army 
of  the  North,  though  he  had  not  stated  in 
what  ranlv  or  capacity. 

It  was  no  wonder,  then,  that  she  could  not 
see  beneath  that  strange  disguise  the  form  of 
the  man  who  held  the  bestct  her  pure  affec- 
tion and  troth. 

The  voice,  though,  she  could  never  forget. 

No  time  was  there  for  the  outburst  of  mu- 
tual rapture  which  would  have  naturally  en- 
sued under  other  circumstances  than  those 
which  now  surrounded  the  pair. 

Robert  had  said  that  he  was  pursued ; 
even  then  his  pursuers  were  thundering  for- 
ward along  the  road  toward  the  tavern,  as  if 
they  knew  their  quarry  was  actually  there. 

Her  first  thought  was  for  his  safety. 

With  one  hand  on  his  arm,  and  dark  eyes 
turned  toward  the  broad  staircase,  as  if  ex- 
pecting to  see  the  Confederate  soldiers  as- 
cending to  seize  their  prey,  she  half  gasped  : 

"If  you  are  pursued,  Robert,  you  must 
flee.  Do  not  stop  in  this  place  another  in- 
stant. I  have  not  the  time  to  even  surmise 
the  meaning  of  the  words  you  have  uttered, 
to  ask  why  you  are  playing  a  part  as  a  spy, 
one  so  brave  as  yourself  and  better  fitted  to 
lead  brave  men  on  a  battlefield.  You  must 
flee  from  here  without  a  moment's  delay. 
My  father  is  oue  of  the  hottest  Southerners 
and  haters  of  Yankees  in  this  section,  and 
wonld  give  you  over  to  them  with  a  positive 
glee  in  his  heart.  Come  this  way ;  there  is  a 
rear  egress  from  the  inn " 

He  interrupted  as  she  made  to  lead  him 
away  along  the  entry. 

"  Wait  a  minute,  Ethel.  It  is  not  my  in- 
tention to  flee  at  all.  I  am  as  safe  here  as 
anywhere.  But  hark!  the  men  have  ar- 
rived. Go!  Do  not  linger  here  with  me.  I 
can  take  care  of  myself.  And  later  I  may 
be  able  to  see  and  talk  further  with  you. 
One  kiss,  darling — there.  Now  go,  and  do 
not  have  any  apprehensions  for  my  safety." 

He  imprinted  a  kiss  on  the  lips  of  the  girl 
aud  then  fairly  forced  her  to  leave  him,  while 
he  turned  into  the  room,  closing  the  door 
after  him. 

As  the  girl  deseenOed  the  stairs  there  was 
a  great  racket  before  the  tavern. 

With  sundry  sljonts  and  a  jangle  of  spurs 
and  sabers,  the  party  ot  horsemen  drew  up 
at  the  porch,  wLeie  old  Silas  stood  ready  to 
welcome  these  soldiers  in  gray  upon  whom 
he  looked  with  pride. 

"Welcome,  gentlemen,  welcome!"  he 
cried.    "  Come  in,  all.  I  am  glad  to  see  you." 


"Hullo,  Silas!"  saluted  the  leader  of  the 
riders,  advancing. 

"Oh,  glad  to  see  you,  Lieutenant  Bolt. 
Come  in." 

"  Yes,  and  my  men  here,  too.  We're  about 
starved  out  just  now  and  want  something  to 
eat.  And  while  you  are  having  that  made 
ready  step  aside  with  me,  Silas,  for  I've 
something  to  say  to  you." 

"  Yes,  lieutenant.    In  a  minute." 

Cobbs  hobbled  away  to  give  the  necessary 
orders  for  refreshments  and  returned  pres- 
©  itly  to  the  ollii-e  bar,  where  the  cavalrymen 
wt-r.-  makiii;z  ^n. ,11^:1  n   i-i   M  resemble  some 

tirtting  li' I'l .  I  I  iji'hn  and  glass- 

es, ('(djlis  Hull    ''  ,0   the  lieutenant, 

and  the  two  i\  iili:ii.  >.  1m  ili. -entry. 

The  detachment  was  lioru  the  Fifteenth 
Virginia  cavalry  under  command  ot  the 
Confederate  Colonel  Ball,  then  in  Fredericks- 
burg. 

And  this  lieutenant,  Rory  Bolt,  was  some- 
what <if  a  curiosity. 

A  man  of  gigantic  build,  and  having  a 
voice  that  seemed  to  issue  from  his  Very 
bowels  when  he  spoke;  his  keen  eyes  over- 
cast by  droopingly  shabby  brows,  aud  a  uose 
protruding  over  a  wonderfully  long,  waxed^ 
mustache  in  a  point  that  seemed  about  to 
poke  and  pry  into  everything,  at  any  time,a»j 
all  hazard. 

"A  word  with  you,  Silas,"  he  said,  in hiS 
deep  tone,  and  with  a  mysterious  motion  (A 
one  of  his  immense  hands. 

"What  is  it,  lieutenant  ?  Oh,  anything  to 
oblige  you." 

"  We  are  after  a  \  ank,"  continued  the  gi- 
ant, keenly  eying  the  oldmau.  "  "We  chased 
him  out  of  Fredericksburg,  where  he  has 
been  playing  the  spy  a  little  too  successfully 
I  am  afraid.  Now,  then,  have  you  seen  any- 
body who  looked  suspicious  around  here, 
for  we  tracked  him  to  the  very  foot  of  the 
slope  leading  up  to  your  tavern." 

Instantly  into  the  mind  of  Cobbs  came  the 
recollection  of  his  strange  guest  up  stairs. 

But  before  he  could  say  anything  in  an- 
swer to  the  lieutenant's  inquiry,  the  latter 
added  further: 

"A  Yankee  spy,  Aud,  look  you,  a  most 
extraordinary  fellow.  He  first  showed  him- 
self at  the  Antietam.  Ho  !  showed  himself 
aud,  blast  him  !  mailesomeof  ilie  boysthiuk 

whip  a  whole  army  unaided  !  at  least  so  I 
have  heard,  for  I  was  not  there.  Had  I  been 
there,  I  wonld  have  slain  the  fellow  who  can 
scare  a  whole  company  out  of  their  wits  aud 
kill  them  like  a  man  knocking  down  ten- 
pins. Aremarkable  Yankee,  I  say,  Silas.  A 
traveling  battery !  for  he  turns  into  a  Gat- 
ling  gun  at  will,  aud,  pn£E !  down  go  all  who 
stand  before  him.  But  I  shall  stand  before 
him,  and  I  shall  uot  go  down,  be  sure  of  that. 
Ho!  Rory  Bolt  does  not  go  down  before 
any  one  man.  But  tell  me,  have  you  seen 
anybody " 

"Aha— aha!  my  dear  lieutenant,  yes,  I 
have  seen  somebody.  Oh,  I  think  I  have 
seen  the  very  man  you  want.  What  does  he 
look  like,  eh  ?" 

"Blow  me!  I,  nor  anyone  else  cannot  do 
that  with  certainty.  But  you  may  have 
noticed,  if  it  is  indeed  the  man  you  haT© 
seen,  that  he  has  a  hump " 

"A  hump?  A  hump?"  eagerly  broke  ia 
Cobbs. 

"  Yes,  a  hump.  And  it  is  that  same  hunff), 
say  the  boys,  which  raises  all  the  Cain  among 
those  who  have  attempted  his  eapture.  Bw 
if  I  can  get  at  the  man,  blast  his  hump  attl 
all!  I'll  put  such  a  gripe  on  him  that  he  wil 
think  his  ankles  are  whipped  otf  to'the  bone. 
Come,  where  is  he,  if  it  is  the  one  you  sup- 
pose we  are  after." 

"Hush!"  admonished  the  tavern-keeper, 
glancing  around  toward  the  stairs.  "Make 
no  noise.  This  thing  must  be  done  quietly, 
or  he  may  escape  you." 

"He  is  now  in  the  house!"  exclaimed  the 
ponderous  lieutenant,  with  almost  wolfish 
eagerness. 

"Yes,  but " 

Rory  Bolt  did  not  wait  to  hear  more. 

Neither  did  he  regard  Cobbs'  wise  sugges- 
tion to  proceed  cautiously. 

Wheeliug,  bestrode  iuto  the  room  where 
his  noisy  men  were  discussing  the  demijohn. 

In  the  same  moment  Ethel,  out  of  sight  at 
the  turn  of  the  stairs  on  the  first  landii\g, 
pressed  one  hand  to  her  bosom  and  mur- 
mured : 

"Ah,  if  Robert  falls  into  the  clutches  at 
this  man,  Rory  Bolt,  he  must  be  doomed,  no 
matter  how  brave  he  may  be.  I  must  warn 
him  again." 

With  the  thought,  she  turned  to  hastan 
toward   the  room   where  she    had    left  har 


^    3 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


But  a  second  thought,  and  an  occurrence 
down  stairs  at  the  moment  checked  her. 

The  stentor  voice  of  the  lieutenant  had  an- 
nounced to  his  men  that  the  hated  Yaultee 
they  sought  was  then  in  the  house. 

The  e£Eect  was  electrical. 

Following  his  lead  with  loud  whoops,  they 
came  pouring  forth  into  the  entry  and  to- 
ward the  stairs. 

Ethel  realized  that  it  she  sought  the  room 
coutaiuing  her  lover  now,  it  might  hasten 
his  aiscovery  by  his  foes. 

With  the  hope  in  her  heart  that  Robert 
would  hear  the  disturbance  and  flee  from  the 
danger  so  near  at  hand,  she  resolved  upon  a 
dangerously  brave  action. 

Up  the  stairs  came  the  crowd  of  cavalry- 
men, their  sabers  and  spure  rattling  and 
jingling,  and  their  rough  voices  raised  in  a 
bowling  chorus  of  vengeance  upon  the  Yan- 
kee spy. 

At  the  landing  they  were  brought  lo  a 
stop  in  a  heap,  some  actually  sprawliug  over 
those  ahead.  ,    .    , 

"  Halt!"  rung  a  Arm  voice  in  their  front. 

Boldly  facing  them,  with  revolver  leveled 
point  blank,  was  the  beautiful  Ethel,  and  in 
her  features  was  an  expression  that  plainly 
indicated  her  deadly  earnestness. 

"  Halt !  Not  one  more  step,  on  your  lives ! 
Do  you  bear?" 

"Ho!  blast  it!  Out  of  the  way  there, 
Ethel  Cobbs!"  roared  the  amazed  voice  of 
Bolt,  who  had  been  crowded  somewhat  to 
the  rear  by  his  eager  men. 

"Not  one  step  will  I  move,  Rory  Bolt! 
and  not  one  step  further  do  you  or  your 
boundish  men  advance,  unless  some  of  you 
are  prepared  to  die.  You  know  I  am  no 
child  in  the  use  of  this  little  barker " 

"Look  out  there,  lieutenant!"  warned 
Cobbs.  _       ,— ,       „„.,,  , 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MTSTERIOCS  BATTEHV    BOB. 

Rory  Bolt  was  no  coward.  But  through  a 
long  intimacy  with  the  tavern  keeper,  he 
knew  the  disposition  of  Ethel  Cobbs  too 
well  to  underrate  her  earnestness  when  she 
made  that  threat. 

He  knew,  too,  that  she  could  handle  the 
revolver  with  a  precision  that  was  astonish- 
ing for  a  female. 

It  seemed  to  him  that  the  weapon  was 
pointing  more  particularly  toward  him— a 
fact  which  caused  him  to  partly  shelter  him- 
self behind  one  of  his  men,  as  he  cried,  bois- 
terously : 

"  Stand  aside  up  there !  We're  after  a 
Tank,  and  what's  more,  we  are  bound  to 
have  him.    Stand  aside,  I  say !" 

"  I  have  already  replied  to  that,"  said  the 
girl,  coolly,  while  her  steadily  flashing  eyes 
divided  their  glance  warily  between  the 
lieutenant  and  his  men. 

The  men,  in  turn,  were  throwing  back 
glances  at  their  leader,  as  if  lo  get  iustruc- 
tious  from  him,  or  to  await  his  action  in  this 
remarkably  unexpected  state  of  affairs. 

The  ease  with  which  she,  a  girl,  had 
been  able  to  check  the  advance  of  the  Con- 
federates, gave  Ethel  some  hope  for  her 
lover  in  case  they  succeeded  in  passing  her. 

Rory  Bolt  alone  she  feared,  for  she  knew 
him  to  be  a  desperate  character. 

There  was  an  interruption  to  the  tableau. 

Suddenly  from  al)Ove sounded  a  voice — the 
voice  of  Robert  Ross  in  defiance. 

"Aside  there,  Ethel!  Let  them  come!" 
And  he  bantered  louder  to  those  below: 
"Yes,  lam  here— a  red-hot  Yank,  my  good 
boys!  Come  and  take  him.  Come,  now- 
all!" 

The  spell  was  broken. 

Revolver  nor  girl  could  not  stay  the  hot- 
blooded  Southerners  now. 

From  the  bearded  lips  of  all  broke  an 
angry  howl,  and  as  one  man  they  hurled 
themselves  forward  upon  the  girl. 

A  single  shot  cracked  in  their  midst,  a 
single  groan  told  that  the  bullet  had  found 
its  mark. 

In    another   moment    the     weapon    was 


pressed  to  the  wall  by  the  jamming 

Then  they  had  passed  her— were  leaping 
up  the  stairs  like  frothing  tigers  after  a  prey 
—and  she  nearly  sunk  down  overcome  by 
the  rough  handUng  of  the  man  hunters. 

Silas  Cobbs  hobbled  up  the  stairs  attei  all 
and  to  Ethel's  side. 

He  was  enraged  by  her  behavior:  Imt  the 
words  of  upbraiding  that  were  upon  his 
bristlin"  lips  were  not  uttered  as  lie  per- 
ceived that  she  had  been  injured  in  some 

Pale  and  weak,  she  leaned  against  the  wall. 


one  hand  held  to  her  side  and  an  expression 
of  suffering  on  her  lovely  face. 

"  Have  they  hurt  you,  my  child  ?" 

..  Yes "  and  with  the  hall  gasped  word, 

a  pallor  whiter  than  before  overspread  her 
face. 

Cobbs  saw  that  she  was  about  to  swoon 
because  of  some  unendurable  pain. 

Solicitously  he  threw  one  arm  arouud  her 
—and  just  in  time  to  prevent  her  falling. 

Bearing  her  unconscious  in  his  arms— the 
more  diffioull  a  task  because  of  his  wooden 
stump— he  descended  the  stairs. 

Simultaneously  there  was  a  din  on  the 
upper  floor  that  savored  of  combat. 

Glass  was  crashing,  revolvers  were  crack- 
ing, and  tlie  shouts  of  the  Confederates  ailed 
the  old  house  with  su«h  a  noise  as  it  had 
never  known  before. 

"Ha!"  exclaimed  Cobbs.  "They  have 
caught  him,  I  think;  and  good  it  is  if  they 
have.  But  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  glass 
breaking,  for  I  know  it  means  that  my  win- 
dows are  being  shivered  by  the  shots  of  the 
boys  in  gray  and  the  shots  of  the  cunning 
Yankee  in  disguise.  No  matter;  if  they 
catch  him  and  string  him  np  to  the  first  tree, 
I  will  stand  the  loss  of  all  my  windows. 
Yes,  a  thousand  windows  to  see  a  Yankee 
hung.    Oh,  there  they  go  again !" 

More  crashing  glass  and  additional  shots, 
mingling  in  the  hoarse  oaths  of  the  cavalry- 

Aiid  above  all,  a  clear,  defiant  voice  that 
seemed  to  goad  the  Confederates  to  a  very 
frenzy.  .    . 

Ethel  had  swooned  and  was  oblivious  to 
the  sound  of  strife  that  threatened  her  lover 
with  death.  ,  ,   .^ 

Cobbs  bore  her  into  a  side  room  and  laiq 
her  on  a  lounge. 

After  which  he  started  toward  the  kitchen 
to  sumraon  the  gid  ne^rress  tbete.  Coal's 
mother,  to  resiiSeittttn  his  child. 

The  proceedings  up  StHil-8  did  D6t  appear 
to  upset  his  equanimity  in  the  least. 

No  matter  what  the  conseqUeUcfeft  to  his 
premises,  so  rabid  a  secessionist  was  he,  as 
long  as  the  Yankee,  whose  race  he  detested, 
was  captured  and  made  an  end  of. 

Meantime,  those  who  had  so  boldly  sprung 
forward  to  capture  the  defiant  spy  in  the 
upper  story,  had  found  that  they  had  no 
easy  task  ahead. 

No  sooner  had  they  arrived  at  the  top  of 
the  staircase  and  turned  to  dash  along  the 
corridor,  than  they  were  met  by  a  most  re- 
markable f  usilade. 

Into  their  midst  poured  a  volley,  it  seemed, 
of  slugs,  small  and  whizzing  slugs  that  found 
a  mark  here  and  there,  ripping  flesh,  wound- 
ine  painfully,  and  the  few  that  did  not  find 


ridor. 

A  remarkable  volley,  because  there  was 
no  sound  of  explosion,  only  a  singularly 
whirring  and  rattling  noise  that  was  inde- 
scribable, but  which  evidently  was  some 
force  in  propulsion  of  those  zipping,  tearing, 
small  but  deadly  slugs. 

The  oaths  that  followed  were  the  cries 
from  wounded  men. 

Ill  the  midst  of  which  the  bull-like  accents 
of  Rory  Bolt  stormed  in  a  rage  that  they  had 
allowed  themselves  to  be  checked  by  a  foe 
that  they  knew  was  comprised  of  but  a  sin- 
gle man. 

"Forward,  here!"  he  bellowed.  "Draw 
sabers!  Cut  him  into  ten  thousand  pieces. 
Blast  you  all!— forward  !  Down  with  the 
Yauk!" 

"  Lieutenant,"  demurred  one,  as  he  shrunk 
back  with  one  wounded  arm  hanging  use- 
lessly at  his  side,  "  it's  Battery  Bob!  I  saw 
him  with  a  scouting  party  at  Antietam. 
He's  a  devil!  We  can't  capture  him,  if  he's 
the  spy  we  run  out  o'  Fredericksburg " 

The  cavalryman  was  cut  iShort  in  a  violent 


Through  the  smoke,  on  went  the  deter- 
mined lieutenant. 

"  Ho,  you  blasted  Yank!  "he  shouted,  as  he 
rapidly  advanced.  "I'll  have  you  yet.  Rory 
Bolt  is  after  you  now!  By  lightning!  I'll 
show  you  that  there  is  one  man  you  cannot 
kill  nor  scare  with  that  accursed  battery 
you  carry  in  your  hump." 

The  tramping  cavalrymen  and  the  thump- 
ing boots  of  their  leader  fairly  shook  the 
floor  of  the  hall  as  they  hastened  forward. 

But  when  they  had  reached  the  other  side 
of  the  smoke,  which  appeared  to  be  sudden- 
ly swept  aside  by  a  draught  from  some 
point— nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  the  bold 
Unionist. 

An  open  window  at  the  further  end  of  the 
corridor,   however,  revealed   the  reason  of 
his  absence. 
He  had  evidently  beateu  a  retreat.  1 

The  window  opened  on  a  shed;  the  lower 
portion  of  the  shed  was  i^lose  enough  to  the 
ground  to  permit  of  an  easy  leap. 

Through  the  window  went  the  gigantii- 
form  of  Lieutenant  Bolt,  and  after  him  still 
the  men,  who  were  encouraged  in  their  pur- 
suit of  the  dangerous  boy  in  blue  by  this 
sign  of  his  flight. 

As  the  last  man  leaped  to  the  ground,  au;l 
while  Bolt  paused  for  a  moment  to  cast  a 
searching  glance  around,  there  was  an  omin- 
ous sound  from  the  direction  of  the  barn. 
The  deep,  long  bay  of  a  bloodhound. 
"  Ho!"  exclaimed  the  Confederate  leader. 
"  I  have  it.  The  accursed  Yank  has  succeed- 
ed in  giving  us  the  slip — for  he  is  out  ol 
sight,  and  we  might  never  learn  which  way 
he  has  gone  by  the  aid  of  our  own  eyes  ami 
ears.  But,  liy  ligStning !  there  is  a  way  tn 
Sua  him,  'fthil  soon  at  that.  Do  you  hear 
that  noise  over  there  by  the  barn i'  Ihere 
are  eyes  and  ears,  and  a  nose,  too,  that  cau 
find  Battery  Bob,  or  any  other  lawa  Ot  |i 
Bob.    Wait."  i 

Then,  with  the  full  strength  of  his  power- 
ful lungs,  he  shouted  for  Silas  Cobbs,  mixing 
an  oath  or  two  to  give  vehemence  to  tlm 
sutntnous.  / 

Forth  hobbled  Silas.  ' 

'•  What  is  it,  lieutenant?  Have  you  caugll( 
him  f    Do  you   want   a   rope — a  goods       ' 


With  the  flat  of  his  ponderous  saber,  a 
weapon  nearly  double  the  weight  of  those 
carried  by  his  men.  Bolt  laid  the  poor  fellow 
prone  and  bleeding  at  his  feet. 

"Take  that!"  he  snarled.  "And  hereafter 
hold  your  peace.  Now,  forward— and  down 
with  this  Yank  who  can  fight  liKe  a  dozeu 
Yanks.    FoUowme!    Take  him.  I  say !" 

Here  he  displayed  that  bold  bravery,  a 
daredevil  heedlessness  of  danger,  which  had 
won  for  him  the  straps  he  wore  as  a  lieuten- 
ant ill  Biill's  cavalry. 

Around  the  corner  of  the  corridor  he  ran 
with  long  lumbering  strides,  while  the 
others,  following  promptly,  delivered  a 
blind  volley  from  their  revolvers  ahead. 

A  bliud  volley,  because  after  the  first  ex- 
change of  fire  with  the  remarkable  individu- 
al known  as  Battery  Bob,  the  hall  was 
densely  clouded  with  smoke. 


rope  that  will  choke  and   hang  and  kill  for 

■     "      ■  -  ■   lili  - 

hang  and  kill  i 


ever  the  Yankee,  as  I   would   like  to  chokf, 


No,  we  haten't  caught  him  at  all,"  iii< 
terrupied  the  hoarsely  deep  voice  of  tlm 
furious  lieutenant.  "And  that  is  what  J 
want  to  see  you  about.  He  has  given  us  tlif 
slip.  But  do  as  I  say,  aftd  it  won't  be  loH;» 
before  you  shall  have  the  Jileasure  of  seeii^ 
him  dangling  from  a  tree — yes,  that,  or  IHs 
body  torn  into  a  million  fragments,  fo^- 
sooth.    Hark!" 


CHAPTER  V. 


UNLEASHING 


BLOODHOUND. 


somewhat  less  than  when  they  had  at  fin-t, 
appeared  in  the  office  bar. 

He  could  not  know  that  in  that  upper 
story  of  his  inn  there  were  laying  at  that 
moment  no  less  than  six  of  the  twenty  caT- 
alryinen  who  had  started  to  ascend  for  tbo 
capture  of  the  Unionist,  nor  did  Lieutenail 
Bolt  give  him  any  time  to  ask  for  an  ei- 
planation  of  this.  ( 

"  Hark ! "  he  repeated . 

Again  came  the  sonorous  bay  from  tl;e 
throat  of  a  bloodhound. 

"Yes,"  said  Cobbs.  "That's  Durga, 
hound.  A  terrible  brute  he  is,  too.  W 
of  him -i"' 

"  Everything  of  him.   Ho  !  with  that  sam^ 
hound    we    will   get   on    the    track   of 
Yank."  " 

"I  see— I  see!"  Silas  uttered,  euthudty- 
cally. 

"  Good,  then,  if  you  see.  Stir  that  woodeh 
stump  of  yours,  now,  and  let  us  be  <ifl«r 
Battery  Bob,  as  you  call  him."  ' 

Cobbs  hurried  in  the  direction  of  the  bart, 
from  whence  just  then  came  a  third  aUl 
louder  bay  from  the  leashed  hound.  i  '*  I 

"  Lieutenant,  we've  lostsix  men,"  rei 
ed  one  of  the  cavalrymen,  venturing  i 
dress  his  officer,  who  was  striding  restleskl 
to  and  fro. 

"How— aix?" 

"  Yes.  I  counted  them  myself,  as 
went  down  before  the  Gatling  gun  of 
tery  Bob." 

"Gatling gun!  Do  you  mean  to  say  tl| 
this  blasted  Yauk  can  carry  a  Gatling  i 
about  with  him,  to  mow  down  the  soldif 
of  the  South  as  he  wills?" 

"It  must  be  a  Gatling  gun,  lieutenant.  ■ 
saw  him  at  Antietam  at  the  same  time  Row 
s«y  did,  on  a  scout "  I  I 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


"  Robesey !  Ho,  where  is  Robesey  ?" 

Silence  fell. 

The  men  exchanged  glances. 

Robesev  was  the  name  of  the  cavalryman 
who  had'  been  so  oiuelly  stricken  down  by 
the  flat  of  tliis  giant  lieutenant's  saber  in  the 
upper  corridor  of  the  inn. 

"Where  is  Robesey?'  demanded  Bolt 
again. 

"  Back  in  the  tavern,  I  guess." 

"  Was  it  Robesey  who  dared  to  give  me, 
his  ofiBcer,  a  piece  of  advice  ?  I  didn  t  notice 
particularly  who  it  was." 

"  Then  let  him  lay  there.  Good  riddance 
if  he  never  survives  the  blow  I  dealt  ;him.  I 
am  chief,  I  will  have  it  understood;  and  it 
will  go  hard  with  those  who  attempt  to  for- 
get it.    By  lightning!  look  at  that  dog." 

Cobbs  had  emerged  from  the  stable  with 
the  hound,  which  he  was  restraining  with 
difficulty  at  the  end  of  a  long  leash  of  stout 
hide. 

At  the  same  time,  he  was  busy  enough  try- 
ing to  quiet  the  beast  by  gentle  words ;  for 
Durga  had  evidently  been  confined  until  he 
was  half  wild  to  regain  his  liberty  of  exer- 
cise. 

No  one  who  had  ever  worked  about  the 
tavern  had  been  able  to  approach  Durga; 
none  had  even  cared  to  venture  close  enough 
to  toss  to  him  his  daily  allowance  of  food, 
tor  on  such  occasions  the  brute  would  be- 
come so  savage  and  make  such  desperate  ef- 
forts to  bi-eak  his  confining  leash,  that  he 
caused  a  terror  to  strike  into  the  heart  of 
the  beholder. 

As  he  approached  under  the  control  of  the 
ian-keeper,  the  only  person  whose  command 
he  would  obey  since  his  puppyhood,  his 
massive  frame,  his  sleek  hair,  his  great  head 
with  the  bulging  eyes  and  jaws  that  yawned 
to  display  the  red  tongue  and  horrible  white 
and  sharp  teeth.  Lieutenant  Bolt  conld  not 
id  the  exclamation : 


possessed  of  considerable  courage  under  the 
usual  circumstances  of  meeting  a  human  foe, 
all  shrunk  a  little  further  away  from  their 
officer,  toward  whom  Cobbs  was  directly  ap- 
proaching. 

A  formidable  and  awful  antagonist  indeed 
would  Durga  prove  if  let  loose  on  the  trail  of 
bold  Battery  Bob. 

"  Here  he  is— here  he  is !"  said  Cobbs,  with 
an  enthusiasm  of  pride  over  the  possession 
of  so  sublimbly  terrible  a  pet.  "And  lei 
me  tell  you.  Lieutenant  Bolt,  my  Durga  has 
already  learned  to  distinguish  the  smell  of 
a  Yankee  brogan  ;  so  there  will  be  no  diffl- 


lupk,"  commented  Bolt. 

But  he  added,  as  Cobbs  came  nearer  : 

"  Have  a  care  there,  Silas !  Not  too  close 
with  that  beast,  1  say.  I  have  no  desire  for 
a  nip  from  those  big  jaws." 

"  Oh,  have  no  fear,  have  no  fear,"  rasping- 
ly  piped  Cobbs,  with  an  accompanying 
chuckle,  as  he  perceived  that  even  huge  and 
daredevil  Lieutenaut  Bolt  stood  in  awe  of 
the  hound.  "Have  no  fear.  He  would  do 
no  harm  while  I  am  present  unless  I  jiosi- 
tivelv  hied  him  on.    There  is  no  rtang<-r " 

"  Not  so  close,  I  say,'  halt  shouted  Bolt, 
as  Cohlis  continued  to  advance  toward  liini. 

"But  there  is  no  danger,!  tell  you,  man. 
And  besides,  to  be  of  service  to  us,  I  must 
let  him  entirely  free,  you  know." 

"  You  will  swear  tliiit  there  is  no  danger?" 

"Why,  yes.  Ha,  lia!  not  the  least  bit  in 
the  world,  my  ticid  lieutenant.  Now,  then, 
stand  aside  It  niM  tli;it  spot  under  the  shed, 
while  I  set  him  on  llie  seeut.  You  will  find 
that  I  am  rij;ht;lic>  can  take  up  llie  trail  of  a 

ger  from  the  hole  of  a  stocking.  All  Yankee 
brogans  smell  alike,  you  know,  in  their 
army." 

The  cavalrymen  proceeded  to  give  a  wide 
berth  to  the  spot  near  the  shed  and  in  a  line 
with  the  window  where  the  Unionist  was 
supposed  to  have  descended. 

There  was  s.imc>  murmuring  among  them, 
not  loud  euoiigli  to  reach  the  ears  of  Lieu- 
tenant Bolt,  however;  and  all  were  of  the 
same  willing  mind  to  have  let  (he  Unionist 
go  free  sooner  than  talcc  themselves  the 
chances  of  having  Durga's  great  jaws  close 
on  their  own  flesh,  as  they  ai)preheniled 
might  be  the  case  the  moment  he  whs  f ree 
from  the  detaining  hand  of  his  master,  the 
inn-keeper. 

"Keep  out  of  his  way,"  said  Cobbs,  as  he 
snatched  off  the  padlock  at  the  collar  of  the 
beast,  and  hobbled  forward,  coa.xin^  his 
ferocious  pet  to  follow  him. 

Under  the  cave  of  the    shell,  Durga  was 


nderstand  what  was  expected 


soon  mad 
of  him. 

Within  a  few  seconds  the  dog  began  cir- 
cling around  and  about  with  his  nose  alter- 
nately skimming  along  the  ground  and  ele- 
vated sufficiently  in  the  air. 

Then  he  performed  somethmg  that  sent  a 
cold,  almost  paralyzing  shiver  into  the  souls 
of  the  cavalrymen,  not  excepting  Lieutenant 
Bolt. 

By  swift  bounds  he  came  toward  the  men 
and  ran  in  a  line  among  them,  his  nose  fairly 
tipping  the  toes  of  each. 

Cobbs  raised  one  hand  warningly  in  a  way 
that  said : 

"Do  not  move;  make  no  sound,  or  you 
may  destroy  his  method." 

The  ordeal  was  past  in  a  few  seconds  more, 
and  Durga  ran  bounding  back  to  the  spot 
near  the  shed. 

Presently  a  sharp,  cutting  j^ell  broke  from 
the  beast,  and  so  sudden  was  it  that  all  were 
startled  as  much  as  they  would  have  been 
had  a  gun  from  a  Federal  battery  exploded 
in  their  midst. 

Now  Cobbs  shouted  : 

"He  has  it!  He  has  it,  lieutenant.  Mount 
your  horses!  Mount  and  follow  him.  Have 
no  fears.  He  will  find  the  Yankee,  audit 
you  make  haste,  you  may  be  in  time  to  see 
him  riven  into  blue  shreds.  Mount!  He 
has  seen  you  with  me,  and  he  has  intelli- 
gence enough  to  know  that  you  are  in  pur- 
suit of  the  one  he  is  trailing.  He  will  do 
none  of  you  any  harm." 

"Come  on,"  commanded  Bolt,  hurrying 
toward  the  horses  that  were  haltered  to  the 
long  rail  at  the  front  of  the  tavern. 

The  bloodhound  could  be  heard  as  it  sped 
on  the  track  of  the  hunted  man,  np  the  slope 
to  the  crest  towering  above  the  little  branch 
making  in  from  the  Rappahannock  close  to 
Cobbs'  Rest. 

But  just  as  the  Confederates  were  mount- 
ing, and  while  a  savage  jubilance  was  man- 
ifest in  Bolt's  face  and  actions,  something 
transpired  to  distract  the  attention  of  all 
from  the  distant  baying  hound. 

"Lieutenant!  Iook  a  there!"  burst  from 
one  of  the  men. 

"  Look  w  here  ?— at  what  ?  Come  on.  After 
the  Yank.  I  want  to  be  in  time  to  see  him 
riven  into  sheds,  as  old  Silas  says " 

"  But  look— look  !  The  Yanks  are  coming! 
They  are  almost  on  us !    There  they  are !" 

And  now  others  of  the  troop  took  up  the 
cry: 

"Thsro  they  are!" 

Bolt  turned  in  his  saddle,  reins  in  hand,  to 
see  what  caused  the  commotion  among  his 
followers. 

And  not  a  little  surprise  held  him  speech- 
less for  an  instant,  as  he  gazed  down  the 
road  that  led  up  the  slope. 

Coming  steadily  forward  were  columns  of 
blue  soldiery. 

There  were  no  sounds  of  drums  or  other 
timing  music  to  indicate  their  approach. 

Onward  they  came,  with  flying  colors  that 
even  under  the  shelter  of  the  hills  found 
enough  of  draught  to  unfurl  them  and  re- 
veal the  stars  and  stripes. 

"By  lightning!"  blurted  from  his  aston- 
ished"lips. 

Then  one  and  all— seeming  to  utterly  for- 
get that  they  were  in  pursuit  of  the  Yankee 
spy  or  anybody  else — gave  rein  to  their 
horses  and  dashed  off  in  the  direction  of  Fal- 
mouth. 

The  bloodhound  was  following  the  trail 
alone.  Far  away  now  sounded  his  sonorous 
baying,  warning  the  fugitive  that  he  must 
halt  and  fight  for  his  life. 


CHAPTER  VL 


A    HOT 

It  was  no  small  body  of  men  in  blue  that 
had  thus  frightened  off  the  cavalrymen  from 
the  inn  of  old  Silas  Cobbs. 

The  Union  army  was  fast  drawing  near  to 
Fredericksburg. 

This  body  of  troops,  this  winding,  tramp- 
ing column  of  grim  soldiery  that  bore  amid 
the  ranks  the  stars  and  stripes,  was  the  van 
of  Sumner's  grand  division  then  pressing 
swiftly  on  to  Falmouth. 

By  different  routes,  convergingly,  they 
came,  the  thousands  in  winding  columns 
with  flaunting  standards. 

To  the  right  and  to  the  left  of  the  slope, 
where  other  facilities  offered  for  the  steady 
advance,  the  plains  and  the  crests  had  sud- 
lienly  seeuied  to  swarm  with  figures  wear- 
ing blue  uniforms  and  whose  polished  mus- 
kets gleamed  from  afar  like  some  artificial 
slant  of  wavy  sunbeams. 

The  road  to  Falmouth  was  fast  flllicg  with 
the  oncoming  ranks,  and  the  i-oad  to  Fal- 
mouth, below  the  elevated  position  of  Cobbs' 


Rest,  was  being  torn  by  the  galloping  hoofs 
of  more  than  one  rider  who,  from  the  re- 
cesses in  the  hills,  was  hastening  to  carry  the 
tidings  to  the  people  that  the  Yankee  army 
was  ••lose  at  hand. 

None  swifter  of  all  these  riders  than  the 
troopers  who  followed  Lieutenant  Bolt— fol- 
lowed him,  because,  it  he  was  foremost  in 
leading  to  danger,  ho  was  as  well  foremost  in 
fleeing  from  it  now. 

"  Hurry,  there !  Spur  and  voice !  Come 
on  1"  he  vociferated  to  his  men.  "The  Yanks 
are  truly  upon  us,  and  there  will  be  hot 
work  shortly  at  Fredericksburg,  I  imagine. 
Forward !" 

At  the  same  time  and  at  an  angle  which, 
while  it  was  toward  the  advancing  lines  of 
the  Federals,  was  also  at  an  acute  angle 
away  from  them,  far  away  on  the  top  of  the 
hill  that  towered  above  the  little  stream, 
swiftly  sped  the  disguised  Robert  Ross. 

Not  so  far  had  he  gone,  though,  as  to  be 
beyond  hearing  of  that  ominous  sound  in  his 
rear  which  told  that  there  was  a  bloodhound 
on  his  track. 

He  had  escaped  from  the  inn  in  the  man- 
ner suspected  by  the  Confederate  cavalry- 
men, after  having  so  mysteiionsly,  without 
any  explosion  of  a  weapon,  laid  low,  in 
wounds  or  death,  several  of  his  would-be 
captors. 

For  some  reason  he  abandoned  his  inten- 
tion of  remaining  in  the  tavern  despite  the 
danger  and  odds  against  him. 

And  as  he  hurried  onward,  more  than  once 
he  placed  oi;e  hand  against  his  breast  as  it  to 
feel  of  something  there  for  the  safety  of 
which  he  was  anxious. 

"  I  was  foolish,"  ho  muttered,  "  to  think  of 
remaining  there,  when  I  have  so  much  here 
that  is  important  to  the  Union  army.  I 
must  make  that  safe  first;  afterward,  I  can 
see  Ethel.  See  her?  Who  can  tell?  For 
there  will  be  a  bloody  battle  fought  here 
shortly,  and  1  am  but  mortal.  I  shall  be  at 
my  post,  and  only  God  knows  whether  I 
shall  live  to  see  Ethel  or  anyone  else  of  all 
for  whom  I  entertain  affection.  Yes,  the 
dispatches  first,  then  Ethel.  Ah,  hark  !  That 
is  the  bay  of  a  bloodhound.  Is  such  a  beast 
on  my  track?  I  know  that  Silas  Cobbs  kept 
several  bloodhounds  when  I  was  there  in  the 
olden  time." 

For  a  few  seconds  he  paused  to  listen. 

The  increasing  volume  of  the  hound's 
tonguing  soon  convinced  him  that  he  must 
be  the  object  of  the  thirsty  pursuit. 

This  realization,  however,  did  not  appear 
to  cause  him  either  surprise  or  anxiety. 

Instead  of  increasing  his  pace,  he  actually 
slackened  his  gait,  and  with  occasional  in- 
quiring glances  back  over  his  shoulder,  con- 
tinued in  the  pathless  course  he  was  follow- 
ing amid  the  trees. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  sound  of  the 
trailing  hound. 

"  I  guess  I  shall  have  a  sight  of  him  pretty 
soon,  now,"  he  thought,  halt  pausing  beside 
a  fallen  piece  of  timber.  "And  unless  I  am 
greatly  mistaken,  now  that  I  listen  a  little 
closer,  that  is  the  note  of  the  same  hound, 
Durga,  which  old  Silas  Cobbs  showed  me  at 
the  time  when  I  was  a  guest  at  his  hotel.  I 
know  that  Durga— it  that  is  Durga— is  a  ter- 
rible antagonist ;  but  I  also  know  that  unless 
-Durga  is  bullet  proof,  I  can  make  it  pretty 
his  fangs 
Robert  Ross.  Come  on, 
Durga!" 

Nearer  the  hound. 

Ross  performed  a  rather  singular  motion. 

Instead  of  standing  to  face  the  monster 
that  was  assuredly  coming  to  give  him  fierce 
battle,  he  knelt  there  by  the  fallen  tree  and 
turned  his  back  toward  the  source  of  the 
warning  note. 

Oil  came  the  ferocious  Durga. 

The  hound  could  now  be  seen  bounding  in 
gigantic  stretches  through  the  leafless  tim- 
ber, his  red  jaws  distended  and  sending  forth 
a  renewed  sound  of  eagerness  and  triumph 
as  he  sighted  his  quarry  kneeling  there,  ap- 
parently halted  in  combined  fatigue,  despair 
and  terror. 

Another  moment,  then  the  beast  fairly 
arose  from  the  earth  to  hurl  itself  upon  the 
treed  prey. 

But  in  midair,  as  it  were,  Durga  met  with 
a  reception  that  was  astonishing  and  ter- 
rible. 

There  was  a  grinding,  whirring  sound 
about  the  person  of  the  waiting  man. 

Without  any  sound  of  explosion,  out  from 
his  back  seemed  to  pour  a  hail  of  small  clugs 
that  showered  straight  upon  the  savage  ani- 
mal. 

Like  a  deadly  blast  it  was;  and  Durga 
changed  his  note  for  one  of  howling  that 
awoke  the  utmost  echoes  of  the  spot. 

Down  to  the  earth  he  came — down  in  a 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


heap,  rolling  over  and  over,  then  gaining  his 
limlw  and  staggering  about  in  a  way  almost 
human  in  its  drunken  exhibition. 

His  fore  paws  fairly  tore  and  dug  at  his 
nozzle,  as  if  to  brush  away  something  that 
caused  liim  excruciating  misery. 

Ross  arose  and  stood  calmly  watching  the 
brute. 

"  I  guess  that  will  settle  his  propensity  for 
following  a  trail,"  he  thought,  though  care- 
ful not  to  utter  ttie  thought  aloud. 

And  while  the  dog  thus  lurched  around, 
seeming  to  have  forgotten  or  lost  his  intend- 
ed victim,  a  form  stepped  out  from  bebiiid  ;i 
tree  that  was  in  the  rear  of  Ross  and  iinper- 
CoJVed  by  him. 

Atall,  slim  individual  wearing  a  blu^-  lilmi^c 
that  was  strapped  in  tight  at  the  waisi  liy  a 
iaat  containing  a  pair  of  revolvers  and  a 
3c0g  knife. 

^de  carried  a  rifle  of  remarkably  long  bar- 
rel, and  evidently  not  of  government  make; 
and  on  the  muzzle  of  this  he  leaned,  con- 
templating Ross  with  a  pair  of  keen  eyes 
from  beneath  the  rim  of  an  army  hat  having 
a  great,  flapping  brim. 

"That  was  neatly  done,  Battery  Bob." 

Ross  wheeled  upon  the  speaker,  and  this 
time  his  hand  sought  a  revolver  that  was 
concealed  in  his  bosom 

"Who  are  you?" 

"I'm  Simmons,  the  scout.  Ever  heard  of 
me?  Iguc^JsI  know  vou.  though  perhaps  I 
wouldn't  if  1  hadn  t  seen  thatjlittle  perform- 
aoce  of  yours.  Ittliat's  tlie  way  you  treat 
the  relis  wlien  they  get  too  close,  I  don't 
wonder  that  the  men  in  the  army  call  you 
Battery  Bob.  I'd  like  to  have  .just  a  little  of 
such  fun  myself  sometimes.    Shake!" 

Ross  had  immediately  advanced.  For  he 
recognized  at  once  by  the  name  spoken,  one 
of  the  most  famous  scouts  that  had  figured 
with  the  army  since  its  march  from  Freder- 
ick uuder  McClellan.  And  by  the  address 
ofSimmons.it  appeared  that  the  singular 
fame  of  a  man  known  as  Battery  Boli  was 
not  unknown  to  him. 

The  two  shook  hands  cordially. 

"  Where  from  ?"  Simmons  asked. 

"  Just  out  of  a  gantlet  at  Fredericksburg, 
where  I  was  sent  ahnost  on  the  very  day 
that  Burnsiile  tn,)k  eommand.  And  I  be- 
lieve that  what  I  liiive  learneii  is  well  wortli 
the  peril  I  encountered  to  secure  it.  Have 
you  been  constantly  with  the  army  since  the 
commencement  of  the  march  from  Warren- 
town  ?" 

"  Off  and  on,  yes." 

"  And  is  Burnside  still  of  the  mind  that  he 
can  take  Fredericksburg?" 

"Well,  he  just  is.  And  what's  to  hin- 
der  " 

"  How  far  foward  have  you  been  ?" 

"  Only  right  here  where  you  see  me." 

"And  I,  as  I  say,  have  only  been  a  few 
hours  out  of  Frederickburg.  Burnside  ha," 
made   a    mistake.     He  cannot  take  Freder- 


Sumne 


lat 


"  1  hold  a  different  opmioi 
this  moment  almost  at  Falmouth— that  is 
how  I  happen  to  be  scouting  off  here.  TUe 
Rappahannock  can  be  easily  crossed  at  once, 
and  the  chances  are  that  even  before  the  rest 
of  the  army  comes  up,  Sumner  alone  will 
have  occupied  the  city." 

"Simmons,  we  are  brother  scouts,"  said 
Ross,  suddenly. 

"Yes." 

"  If  I  place  in  your  hands  something  of  the 
greatest  importance  for  Burnside,  will  you 
take  it  to  him  immediately?" 

"Yes.     But  what  about  yourself  ?    Where 


'No.' 


I  still  be  of  service,  it  you  will 
Cooperate  with  me.  Will  you  meet  me  on 
Back's  Island  to-morrow  night?  I  may  have 
more  news  of  note  for  you  to  take  in." 

"I'Ubethere.  Butjou  are  taking  more 
onances  than  I  would,  I  can  tell  you." 

"Never  mind.  Now  hasten  in.  Here," 
handing  over  a  small  package  of  papers  to 
the  scout  in  whose  integrity  he  well  knew  he 
could  rely. 

Scarcely  had  the  transfer  been  made  when 
there  was  a  startling  interruption  to  this  lit- 
tle meeting  in  the  woody  crest. 


igone  concmsion. 
Surrender,  you  Yanks !" 

And  a  dozen  at  once : 

"Surrender,  or  we'll  blow  you  full  of 
holes!" 

If  the  Confederates  had  expected  to  appall 
the  couple  by  this  sudden  attack  and  the 
force  of  such  superior  numbers,  they  saw 
their  mistake  in  less  than  two  seconds  from 
the  utterance  of  their  angry  shouts. 

Nimble  as  monkeys,  and  in  opposite  direc- 
tions, Simmons  and  Ross  whisked  out  of 
,si"lit  liehind  eonvenleut  trees,  and  Justin 
linie  to  save  their  lives,  probably,  for  simul- 
taueinislv  lliereciiuie  the  bang  of  muskets 
and  the  zipping  tear  of    bullets  in   the   bark 


jdthe 


Like  an  echo  spoke  the  long  rifle  of  Sim- 
mons from  his  shelter,  and  with  so  many 
available  and  close  marks,  it  was  not  aston- 
ishing that  upon  the  crack  of  his  rifle  one  of 
the  Johnnies  threw  up  his  hands  with  a 
piercing  shriek  and  another  leaped  high  in 
the  air,  falling  and  rolling  on  the  ground 
from  a  wound  inflicted  by  the  bullet  after  it 
had  passed  clean  through  the  body  of  the 
first  man. 

But  the  Confederates  still  came  on   with  a 

Battery  Bob  had  not  replied  to  their  flre 
with  his  revolver.  He  was  busy  instantly  in 
another  way. 

Reaching  behind  him,  under  the  artificial 
hump  on  his  back,  he  grasped  from  a  bag 
which  he  carried  there,  a  handful  of  revol- 
ver slugs  and  buckshot. 

Throwing  up  the  flap  before  mentioned  as 
a  peculiarity  of  t-he  coat  he  wore,  he  poured 
the  handful  into  a  funnel-like  contrivance 
which  was  strapped  to  his  back,  then  laid 
hold  upon  a  small  crank  beneath  the  funnel. 

But  a  few  feet  now  intervened  between 
the  foe  and  the  shelter  of  the  rinon   scouts. 

Ere  those  few  feet  were  pa^-sed  over,  the 
revolvers  of  Simmons  began  to  bark,  and 
his  aim  with  these  was  as  deadly  as  with  his 
long  rifle,  for  several  of  the  Confederates 
pitched  headlong  forward  almost  at  the  feet 
of  the  brave  fellow  who  so  coolly  met  them. 

But  while  he  fired,  and  unable  to  glance 
toward  Battery  Bub  to  see  what  was  the 
cause  of  his  inaction,  so  busy  was  he  with 
the  yelling  enemy  who  seemed  destined  to 
triumph  1/ecause  of  their  superior  numbers, 
he  thought,  in  siirjnise: 

"If  that  man  is  Battery  Bob,  as  I  suppose 
him  to  be,  what  the  deuce  can  be  the  matter 
with  him?  Why  doesn't  he  help  me  here, 
with  these  butternuts?  " 

At  the  very  instant  when  it  seemed  that 
the  two  would  surely  fall  captive  to  the 
graycoats,  a  remarkable  scene  occurred. 

Out  from  behind  the  tree  leaped  Ross. 

That  ominous  hump  was  turned  toward 
the  Confederates. 

Then  came  that  whirring,  grinding  sound, 
and  the  assailants  found  themselves  in  the 
midst  of  a  leaden  hail  that  inflicted  painful, 
and  in  some  instances  deadly,  wounds  in 
bodv  and  face. 

The  foremost  hailed  in  dismay,  some  clap- 
ping their  hands  to  their  faces,  on  which 
werebloody  marks,  and  two  or  three  sink- 
ing down  outright. 

One  man  in  the  rear  uttered  a  cry  that  told 
how  swiftly  southward  had  traveled  the 
fame  of  this  remarkable  fighter. 

"Battery  Bob  !  Look  out, or  you'll  be  killed, 
every  mother's  son  of  you.  It's  Battery 
Bob!" 

Though  this  announcement  was  a  mystery 
to  the  majority,  those  who  did  comprehend 
it,  iiiUueneed  by  their  immediate  action,  the 
action  of  the  remainder. 

All  turned  and  fled  precipitately,  scatter- 
ing hither  and  thither,  though  there  was  no 


furtlie 


atioi 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  TRAIL  OF  HLO01). 

Out  from  the  trees  in  front  of  the  two 
scouts  suddenly  dashed  no  less  than  a  score 
of  Confederate  infantry,  some  with  muskets 
lowered  to  a  charge  and  others  pausing, 
after  a  few  steps,  to  level  their  cocked  weap- 
ons upon  the  pair  who  were  plainly  to  them 
kated  Yankees. 

Out  with  a  dash    and    chorusing  yell,  and 


man  with  the  iiiiin|)  aiier- luat  iiim  luMi.mt. 

"Hoo.av!"  shouted  Simmons.  "  liattery 
Bob,  you  are  a  battery,  -uie.  (Jive  me  your 
hand.  That  machine  of  yours  is  just  the 
coiisarndest  beauty  I  ever  saw." 

Ross  stepped  to  the  Confederates  who  had 
fallen  under  his  novel  battery  and  the  shots 
of  Simmons. 

All  were  dead. 

And  he  knew,  when  he  looked  into  the 
faces  of  several,  just  how  many  lives  he  had 
stricken  out  with  the  discharge  of  his  won- 
derful machine. 

Some  of  the  dead  had  both,  some  one,  of 
their  eyes  shot  out  by  the  tiny  slugs  that  had 
penetrated  to  the  brain. 

"Now  then,"  he  said,  returning  to  Sim- 
mons, who  was  reloading  his  rifle.  "  Make 
haste  to  headquarters,  please,  with  the  dis- 
patches I  have  given  you.    Good-by." 

"  And  good  luck  to  vou,"  broke  in  Sim- 
mons,  who  had  become,  in   that  short  ac- 


quaintance, a  great  admirer-  of  the  man 
called  Battery  Bob. 

And  he  added : 

"  I  won't  forget.  You  may  expect  to  find 
me  at  Beck's  Island  to-morrow  night,  if  1 
am  alive." 

The  tall  scout  stalked  away  through  the 
woods,  pausing  once  for  a  final  wave  of  his 
hat. 

Ross  stood  looking  after  him  until  he  was 
lost  to  view. 

"Now  then,"  he  muttered,  "back  to  Fred- 
ericksburg. I  would  like  to  chance  another 
visit  to  the  inn  and  see  Ethel.  But  if  Sum- 
ner is  already  near  Falmouth,  as  Simmons 
says,  I  might  meet  someone  among  the  army 
looking  for  me,  perhaps,  with  a  dispatch 
assigning  me  to  some  other  field  of  scouting. 
I  do  not  want  that  to  occur  just  yet.  I  know 
I  can  be  of  more  service  in  the  city,  around 
which  Lee  is  fast  massing  his  troops  to  meet 
the  tardv  Burnside." 

Giving  a  final  glance  around  him,  to  be 
sure  that  he  was  unobserved,  he  advanced  to 
the  log  where  We  have  seen  him  kneel  to 


He  had  i)reviously  observed  that  this  log, 
old  and  decayed,  contained  quite  a  large 
cavity  at  one  end. 

"  A  very  good  place,  I  think,"  he  uttered  . 
aloud,  musingly.    "I'll  venture  it,  anyhow." 

He  removed  his  outer  garments,  thrusting 
them  one  after  another  into  the  log. 

Ne.-ct  he  removed  the  singular  contrivance 
which  he  wore  strapped  to  his  back,  and 
placed  it  with  the  clothes. 

From  a  pocket  he  produced  a  small  vial 
and  a  sponge. 

With  the  contents  of  the  vial,  he  bathed 
his  face,  and  the  paint  which  bad  given  him 
the  artificial  ruddiness  disappeared. 

From  another  pocket  he  drew  forth  a  soft 
hat. 

By  the  removal  of  the  garments  which  he 
wore  when  first  introduced  to  the  reader, 
and  by  the  fact  of  another  suit  which  he 
wore  under  the  former,  Robert  Ross  pres- 
ently stood  stifHy  erect  there,  a  perfect 
specimen  of  a  elergyman,  with  clean  white 
and  standing  collar,  with  choker,  and  a 
glossy  suit  of  plain  black. 

A  pair  of  spectacles  completed  this  trans- 


fort 


iitioii 


While    the     UletalliOl 

upon  his  deteniiinati^ 
icksburg,  let  us  glance  back  at  the  tavern  of 
Silas  Cobbs  where,  meanwhile,  another  ami 
a  singular  occurrence  is  worthy  of  atten- 
tion. 

Having  started  the  hound  upon  the  trail 
of  the  Unionist,  Cobbs  was  somewhat  disap- 
pointed and  wroth  to  discover  the  coming 
army  of  blue  over  the  slopes  and  ridges,  as 
it  so  quickly  turned  aside  Lieutenant  Bolt 
and  his  men  from  following  the  hound. 

"May  an  earthquake  swallow  up  every 
Yankee  in  Christendom !"  he  fumed,  stamp- 
ing his  wooden  stump  on  the  ground,  and 
afterward  on  the  porch  which  he  hastened 
to  ascend.  "  But  they  need  not  think  that  I 
fear  them.  Oh,  no  !  If  I  have  but  one  leg, 
thev  will  find  that  a  man  with  one  leg  can 
be  as  brave  as  the  rest.  Yes.  I  will  show 
them  what  old  Silas  Cobbs  is  made  of. 
Wait."  And  he  called,  as  he  thumped  into 
the  broad  hall :  "Coal— coal!  where  are  you 

''""lIval-N  i"!  Massa  Silas." 

"Go  d.iwn  cellar  and  bring  up  my  flag. 
Coal.     Hurrv  theie!" 

While  Coal  hastened  to  do  as  he  w.-is  bid  m 
reganl  to  a  flag  which  Cobbs  had  in  his  cel- 
lir  the  inn-keeper  entiled  the  room  where 
lu^'hadlett  KllM  1  v.lien  suinuu.ned  outside- 
1,V  Lieutenant  lir.M  .-Im.lly  bef.ne. 

'He  hail  left  the  iiegitss,  ('(lal's  mother, 
with  his  daughler.  who  remained  uncon- 
scious up  to  the  time  of  his  going  out. 

But  neither  the  negress  nor  Ethel  was  in 
the  room  now. 

And  more,  as  he  crossed  the  threshold,  he 
halted  aghast.  . 

What  he  saw  there,  instead  of  his  child, 
was  enough  to  startle  any  man. 

On  the  floor  beside  the  lounge  on  which 
Ethel  had  lain  was  a  large  red  splotch— a 
SDlotch  of  blood,  unmistakably. 

Leading  from  the  splotch  to  the  window, 
which  was  open,  was  a  distinct  trail— a  trail 
of  blood.  ,  ,       , 

On  the  window  sill  were  marks— marks  of 
paws,  like  the  paws  of  a  dog,  or  two  dogs,  so 
mixed  were  thev,  and  these  two  were  im- 


31 

THE  WAK  LIBRARY. 


e'apped  his  hands  to  his  bald  temples  in  a 
dismayed  shudder. 

"Save  my  soul!"  he  gasped.  "They  are 
loose— the  two  new  hounds  1  purchased  from 
Captain  Digby.  Loose,  and  they  have  been 
here:  thev  have  first  uiurdereil  and  then 
carried  off  my  child.  For  Digby  saul  tliat 
they  were  very  cannibals— tbey  would  eat  a 
human  it  once  Ihey  caught  the  smell  of 
blood  about  iliat  lininan's  person!     Oh,  God! 


%^l 


standi! 


further  speech  uv  a  pt-  ,    ,•    . 

ingat  the  possible  evidcnceol  li^tliel  s  Mavnjg 
been  killed,  earned  off  and  devonreil  by  two 
gigantic  hounds  which  he  had  recently 
bought  of  a  planter  wlio  had  entered  the 
Southern  army  and  had  no  further  use  for 
the  savage  beasts. 

Fully  capable  were  they,  he  knew,  of  car- 
rying off  a  human;  and  cannibals  enough 
were  they,  he  had  been  informed,  to  eat 
human  flesh  if  that  flesh  contained  the 
slightest  smell  of  blood  about  it. 

And  Ethel's  hand  had  been  bruised  to 
bleeding  by  the  rough  jostling  she  had  re- 
ceived from  the  troopers  in  pursuit  of  the 
Onionist  in  the  upper  story  of  the  inn. 

Then  Cobbs  cried,  frautieaily : 

"Coal!  Dinah!  Here!  Come!  Hurry! 
Flv!  Coal,  Isay !" 

The  negress  came  running. 

"Where  is  my  child?"  he  demanded,  with 
dilating  eyes. 

"  Degood  Lawd,  Massa  Silas " 

"  Where  is  my  child  ?  Do  you  hear  ?  What 
haveyoudone  withher?  Tell  me— quick! 
or  I'll  flay  you  alive!"  and  he  advanced  up- 
on the  astounded  negress  with  uplifted  cane, 
us  it  he  would  smite  her  to  death. 

"  Massa  Silas,"  she  cried,  "  'deed  f  doesn't 
know  whar  she  is,  fo'  shuah— 'deed  I 
doesn't." 

"  But  I  left  you  here  with  her," 

"An' she  dope  got  well  agin,  Massa  Silas, 
an'  tol'  me  fo'  to  cl'ar  out,  'at  she's  all  right 
I  .swears,  Massa  Silas.    I  doesn't  know  whar 

"  She's  murdered !"  piped  the  horrified  fa- 
ther, almost  in  a  scream,  as  he  stamped 
about.  "  She's  murdered  by  those  accursed 
bloodhounds  I  was  persuaded  to  buy  of  Capt- 
ain Digby "  ^.      , 

"Degood  Lawd!"  burst  from  Dinah,  as 
her  glance  now  fell  upon  the  tell-tale  blood 

"  Hyar's  de  flag,"  said  Coal,  at  this  ,iuuc- 
ture. 

And  the  boy  added : 

"  Dey's  a  comin',  Massa  Silas— de  Yankees 
isacomiu'.  Dey's  almos'  right  hyar.  See 
'em  trough  de  winder " 

"Fly  about— fly  about !"  Cobbs  snapped, 
interruptingly.  "Give  me  the  flag;  and  fly 
about  and  close  the  doors  and  windows— 
every  door  and  window.  The  Yankees  can't 
come  into  the  house  of  Silas  Cobbs.  Go!— 
off  with  you!"  the  last  pitched  in  a  key  so 
high  that  his  voice  cracked  and  pierced 
their  ears  with  the  sharpness  of  a  scalpel. 

The  negress  and  her  boy  hastened  to  obey 
the  command,  and  there  was  a  sound  of 
banging  doors  and  rattling  shutters  in  a  rap- 
idity that  told  they  had  a  system  between 
them  tor  this  particular  office. 

"I's  pow'ful  glad  Massa  Silas  isn'tagoiu' 
fo'  to  let  dem  Norf  trash  inside  hyar,"  said 
Coal,  to  his  mother,  as  they  hurried  to  and 

"Hush,  chile;  you  doesn't  know  what 
you's  talkin'  'bout.  Ef  dem  Norf  trash,  es 
you  calls  'em,  wants  fo'  to  scamper  right 
hiuter  Massa  Silas'  house,  you  jes  bet  dey  am 
goin'  fo'  to  do  hit,  now." 

"  Den  we's  all  gwine  be 

boy.  

CHAPTER  VIII. 

CAPTAIN   DENVER'S  LITTLE  STOBY. 

A  short  distance  below  Cobos'  Rest,  the 
road  that  led  up  the  slope  to  the  tavern  was 
forked,  the  left  branch  of  which  led  into 
•    Falmouth. 

At  this  fork,  at  the  moment  when  we  see 
the  few  occupants  of  the  tavern  engaged 
with  closing  doors,  and  windows,  were  halt- 
ed the  companies  of  a  blue-clad  regiment. 

For  some  reason  tliey  were  detained  there 
while  the  other  regiments  continued  on  in 
that  winding  march  over  the  slope  and  the 
lower  plain,  and  even  they,  soldiers  them- 
selves, were  engaged,  while  at  rest,  in  ab- 
sorbingly watcliing  tlie  long  lines  marching 
past  toward  the  Uuppaliannock. 

The  two  captains  of  the  leading  compan- 
ies had  come  together  for  a  brief  conversa- 
tion—both of  sucli  apparent  youth  in  years, 
that  at  first  glance  one  would  say  they  were 
hardly  fitted  to  command  the  bearded  men 
around. 


doled  the 


But  those  bearded  men  loved  and  had  con- 
fidence ill  the  seeming  vouths  who  com- 
manded tliem  ;  the  bloody  field  of  Antietam 
hud  showed  them  that  they  possessed  cour- 
afic,  skill  and  coolness. 
Ohl  tiiends  were  they. 
'■  Well,  Denver,"  said  he  of  the  foremost 
coinpaiiy,  "you  are  nearing  the  town  at 
last,  where  you  have  said  lies  the  fate  of  your 
whole  futuie  life," 

"Yes,  Fivdcricksburg.  And  do  you  know, 
I  would  almost  be  willing  to  sacrifice  the 
fortune  that  may  come  to  me  when  1  see  a 
certain  piirtv,  if  I  could  honorably  avoid  a 
meeting  with  that  party." 

"Nonsense!  fortunes  must  not  be  lightly 
thrown  away,  my  dear  fellow." 

"  Under  some  conditions,  perhaps  they 
would  he  better  so.  I  have  never  told  you 
the  whole  circumstances  of  the  case.  Will." 
"No,  and  1  have  not  asked  it;  for  I  sup- 
posed if  it  was  not  a  strictly  private  affair, 
you  would  have  revealed  it  to  me  long  ago." 
"  I  do  not  objc'l  to  lelling  you.  If  I  do  so, 
you  can  the  better  iiiiderstaud  why  I  say 
what  I  do.  I  do  not  think  we  will  move  on 
for  some  time,  and  as  it  will  not  take  long  to 
tell  it,  and  if  you  care  to  hear,  I  will  relate 
the  circumstances  to  you  briefly." 

"Suit  yourself,  Denver.  I  will  listen  in- 
terestedly, of  course  you  know  that." 

"  When  my  father  died  two  years  ago  his 
property,  every  one  thought,  would  revert 
direct  to  me.  Well,  in  a  way,  it  might  have 
done  so.  But  on  the  night  before  his  death  he 
called  ine  to  his  bedside  and  told  me  a  story 
of  his  past  life  which  I  hesitate  to  reveal  even 
to  voii.  inv  old  friend.  Xo  matter.  My 
father,  Jolin  Denver,  was  once  a  very  poor 
man.  He  hud  a  warm  friend  in  a  man 
named  Arnold  DeKay,  who  lived  in  Freder- 
icksburg. This  Arnold  DeKay  advanced  my 
father  a  large  sum  of  money  as  a  friendly 
loan.  My  father  speculated  and  became 
rich.  I  was  then  living.  Before  the  loan  De- 
came  due  DeKay  had  a  child  by  his  wife — a 
daughter;  and  "he  conceived  the  notion  of 
forming  a  marriage  contract  between  the 
children,  myself  and  his  daughter,  to  be  ful- 
filled when  I  should  become  of  age." 

"  A  romance,  truly,"  interpolated  Will 
Harding,  with  a  smile. 

"Y'es,  and  like  a  great  many  other  ro- 
mances, it  has  its  cloud  also,  as  you  will 
learn.  JIv  father  readily  agreed  to  Ihe  prop- 
r,«iti,,ii  iviii.ii  ,:iiMH  from  DeKay,  that  is  as 
sible  for  parents 
children.  Af- 
ter that  little  arrangement,  my  father,  it 
seems,  gave  himself  uofnrthertronble  about 
the  loan  of  money  received  from  DeKay. 
Y'ears  passed  before  DeKay  ever  meutioued 
the  subject.  When  he  did  so,  my  father 
evaded  him.  So  long  a  time  had  clasped 
that  the  claim  for  the  money,  if  any  should 
have  been  made,  had  become  outlawed;  it 
was  now  a  mere  question  of  honor.  My  fa- 
ther was  too  occupied  with  his  affairs,  which 
were  yielding  him  a  vast  income,  to  care  a 
bosh  whether  DeKay  liked  this  treatment  or 
not.  So  the  years  went  by  and  I  grew  to 
manhood.  Mildred  DeKay,  too,  was  grow- 
ing. That  is  the  daughter  of  Arnold  DeKay 
whom  it  was  intended  I  was  to  marry. 

"On  this  night  of  which  I  speak,  preced- 
ing the  death  of  my  father,  ho  acquainted 
me  with  the  facts  in  the  case  for  the  first 
time.  He  also  showed  me  a  paper  which  he 
had  received  later  from  DeKay,  in  which 
while  it  upbraided  him  for  his  dishonorable 
conduct,  was  set  forth  that  if  I,  the  son 
would  fulfill  the  contract  made  for  the  mar- 
riageof  his  daughter.  Mil  bvil,  Milh  me,  tin 
loan  of  Ihe  past  wonhl  b.-  considered  i-an 
celed.  DeKay,  by  a  slranirc  coincidence 
was  also  dying  at  the  time  he  sent  this  com 
munication  to  my  father,  and  it  tiore  in  it; 
contents  the  stamp  of  that  old  friendly  af 
fection  which  he  had  entertained  for  John 
Denver. 

"  It  would  appearthat  there,  on  his  dying 
bed,  my  father's  conscience  smote  him  for 
his  neglect  of  his  old  and  stanch  friend.  He 
exacted  a  promise  from  me  that  I  would 
seek  tlie  daughter  of  Arnold  DeKay  and  do 
one  of  two  things— marry  her  it  I  could  per- 
suade her  to  it,  which  would  thereby  secure 
to  me  the  money,  or  make  entire  restitution 
to  her  in  my  dead  father's  name.  After  set- 
tling up  the  estate  and  ascertaining  e.\actly 
what  was  the  indebtedness  of  my  father  to 
DeKay,  I  discovered  that,  through  more  re- 
cent speculations  which  had  turned  out 
badly,  there  barely  remained  enough  to 
make  the  restitution  an  alternative.  Now, 
I  have  never  yet  seen  this  Mildred  DeKay. 
Possibly,  too,  she  has  already  given  her  heart 
to  another;  and  even  if  she  is  heart-free.  I 
would  not  ask  her  to  become  my  bride  for 


the  mere  sake  of  preserving  to  myself  a  few 
thousands  of  dollars. 

"  Hence,  I  .say  to  you,  old  friend,  I  almost 
feel  as  it  1  would  prefer  to  make  the  relin- 
quishment of  the  fortune  at  once,  and  be 
done  with  it,  sooner  than  the  ordeal  of  even 
a  conversation  with  the  young  lady  on  the 
subject." 

Will  HardiiiL'  n-w  :,  verv  practical  fellow. 

The  moment  In-  .  nninlc  in  arms  ceased 
hisnarrain d,  heartily 

"You  will  oli,-.h  thingif  I  can 

help  It.  Yoi!  ,  ,  .  ,  1  he  s.iuthern  beauty 
and  lay  till'    utciie    e  i>e    i.efore  her.    Then 


nnl^y't^c 


hctf 


for 


11  lance,  that  you 
her,  then— then,  I 
I  do  the  honorable 
one  which  you  say 


•ding  liroke  off  short,  adding 
in  an  undertone 

"  Here  comes  the  colonel,  and  he  is  in  a 
hurry!" 

The  colonel  of  the  halted  regiment  was 
riding  swiftly  toward  the  head  of  the  ranks, 
where  he  presently  drew  rein  with  a  jerk, 
saying 

"  Captain  Denver? " 

Denver  saluted. 

"You  see  that  house  on  the  rise  ?"  point- 
ing upward  toward  the  tavern,  the  windows 
of  which  were  now  all  tightly  closed. 

"Yes,  colonel." 

"Look  at  thereof- the  roof,  sir.  Look  at 
the  root!" 

The  words  were  loud.  Every  man  in  the 
company  turned  his  eyes  in  the  direction  in- 
dicated. 

There  from  the  roof  of  Cobbs'  Rest  floated 


dejlantly  a  flag 
bars 


The  flag  of  the  Confederacy— the  ! 


sand 


"  Go  up  there  and  haul  down  that  rag. 
Captain  Denver,"  ordered  the  colonel, 
brusquely. 

Denver  at  once  detached  four  men  from 
his  company,  motioning  the  sergeant  to  ac- 
company them. 

With  these  he  started  briskly  up  the  slope. 

When  they  reached  the  tavern,  Cobbs 
thrust  his  head  forth  from  an  upper  window 
and  snarled : 

"  What  do  you  want  here,  you  Yankees  ? 
Go  'long  about  your  business " 

"Open  this  door!"  interrupted  the  de- 
mand of  the  young  captain,  who  had  tried 
the  front  entrance  and  found  it  securely 
fastened  by  bolt  and  lock. 

"  Clear  out,  I  say,  or  it'll  be  the  worse  for 
you " 

"  Shall  we  break  down  the  shebang,  cap- 
tain'"asked  the  sergeant. 

"  Down  with  this  door,  men,"  said  Den- 
ver shortly. 

With  musket  butts  the  Unionists  began 
such  a  banging  on  the  door  instanter  that  it 
was  plain  every  panel  in  it  must  soon  yield 

''Begone from  there,"  half  howled  Cobbs 


Hi 


drew  his  head  from  the  window  as 
he  saw  the  Federal  captain  draw  his  revolver 
and  cast  a  meaning  glance  upward. 
Crash  went  the  door,  splintered  from  its 

In  the  broad  and  dingy  hallway  marched 
the  soldiers  and  followed  their  captain  up 
the  staircase. 

At  the  head  of  the  flight  they  came  upon 
the  liodics  of  the  Confederate  troopers  who 
reununed  laying  where  they  had  fallen  be- 
neath the  fusilade  of  Battery  Bob. 

With  hardly  a  glance  at  these,  however, 
and  thinking  only  of  tearing  down  that  de- 
tested flag  which  flaunted  in  the  very  face 
of  this  van  of  the  army,  Denver  turned  to 
ascend  the  narrower  flight  leading  to  the 
roof. 

Hardly  had  he  reached  the  second  step 
when  the  door  of  a  room  fronting  tlie  stairs 
opened  suddenly,  and  simultaneously  there 
was  a  loud  discharge  from  a  shot-gun. 

Denver  threw  up  his  hands,  his  sword  fall- 
ing from  his  gi  asp,  and  reeled  backward  to 
be  caught  by  the  sergeant  who  was  close  be- 
hind him. 

Following  the  treacherous  discharge  of  the 
gun,  the  voice  of  Cobbs  cried : 

"  Take  that,  you  interloping  Yankee !" 


CHAPTER  IX. 

IMPALED   OX   FEDERAL    BAYONETS. 

It  was  a  dastard  shot  that  checked  the  ad- 
vance of  the  young  captain  on  the  stairs  lead- 
ing to  the  roof. 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


But  the  deed  was  the  most  unfortunate 
aot  of  the  inn-keeper's  lite,  as  the  occurren- 
ces of  the  next  swift  minute  proved. 

A  cry  in  concert  and  horror  broke  from 
the  lips  of  the  four  soldiers  who  were  lol- 
lowiiig  their  officer  upward. 

Then,  with  one  glance  at  the  bleedmg  form 
heldm  the  sergeant's  timely  embrace,  they 
lowered  their  muskets  and  charged  upon  the 
rabid  secessionist.  ^  i,     ,     , 

Cobbs  clubbed  his  shot-gun  and  backed 
against  the  wall. 

"Back— back,  you  houuds  of  blue!"  he 
snarled,  uitliTflH-mence,  nud  wielding  the 
weapon  .-ibove  bis  Vvm\  iu  a  menacing  sweep, 
while  Ills  c-vi's  I. lazfdfuiiously. 

But  the  ^i'oMieIS,  with  cap-straps  crunched 
between  their  teeth,  and  with  but  one 
thought  of  avenging  their  captain,  almost 
disregarded  the  sweeping  gun  butt,  pressing 
in  upon  the  augry  wouUl-be  assassju  until  he 
was  fairly  tight  against  the  wall;  and  the 
gun  clashed  iu  its  circling  Brst  on  one  bayo- 
net and  then  on  another,  knoekiug  them 
aside  in  the  defense  of  his  life  which  he  was 
so  promptly  called  upon  to  make. 

The  voice  of  the  sergeant  cried : 

"Down  with  him,  lads!  Spit  the  rebel  like 
a  frog!  No  mercy  for  him!  Give  it  to 
him!" 

It  was  a  dHM>t-rate  resistance  which  Cobbs 
xUls  liy  which  he  was  sur- 
\-  caiiie  from  every  side 
ts  prodding  at  him,  and 
(iraeut  about  to  break 
iMf  111  succession  of  circles 
■d  around  him. 

„ rung  through  every  room 

and  corridor  of  the  old  inn,  such  a  cry  of 
mortal  agony  as  to  freeze  the  blood  of  one 
who  might  liave  heard,  without  understand- 
ing, the  terrific  struggle  progressing  there  in 
the  upper  story.  . 

Simultaneously  four  sharp,  shining,  terri- 
ble bayonets  were  lunged  forward  at  the 
breast  of  the  inn-keeper. 

Every  point  of  steel  found  its  mark. 

With  the  four  weapon  points  protruding 
from  his  back,  he  was  actually  pinned  to  the 
11  and  held  there,  and  the  shot-gun  drop- 


made 


seeming  >- 
through  tl 
and  swei-]) 


ped  from  his  grasp. 
For  an  instant  there  seemed  1 


cipate,  considerably,  but  no  danger  can 
come  from  it."    • 

The  sergean  t  just  then  entered. 

"  Here's  the  Hag,  captain." 

"  Fold  it  up  and  we  will  take  it  to  tn -■  colo- 
nel " 

"  Let  me  bandage  that    tear  for  you,  cap- 

The  soldier  advanced  and  began  to  adjust 
an  improvised  bandage  about  the  brow  of 
his  wounded  officer,  almost  without  waiting 
for  him  to  give  the  permission. 

And  he  proved  himself  somewhat  of  an 
adept.  ,  .    , 

By  the  time  the  act  was  completed  one  of 
(he  privates  in  the  hallway  came  in,  exclaim- 


ing : 


think 


the  life  of  Captain 


For  an  instant  there  seemed  to  struggle  in 
his  throat  an  awful  anathema  on  the 
heads  of  his  slavers ;  his  eyes  burned  with  a 
transient  light  of  horror  and  hate  com- 
bined. 

Then  the  head  fell  forward  on  the  breast 
and  the  bayonets  let  his  dead  weight  fall 
with  a  sickening  crunch  to  the  boards. 

In  the  same  instant  came  a  loud  ejacula- 
tion from  the  sergeant.  ,,,,,, 

"Hoiiray!     H".  beys,  he  isn't    dead!— the 

For  Denver  iKel  i>iiened  his  eyes  again  just 
as  the  l;iiiilli>i<l  "eiit  dowii— Opened  them 
thou"h  in  a  mist  of  blood  that  was  gushing 
over  his  face  f I  oui  a  wound  where  the  shot 
had  torn  a  portion  of  the  curly  chestnut 
locks  from  a  spot  aliove  his  temple,  though 
fortunately  no  more  than  a  scalp  wound. 

The  shock  had  momentarily  deprived  him 
of  consciousness. 

Even  while  the  sergeant  cried  out  the  tid- 
ings that  he  still  lived,  he  found  strength 
sufficient  to  release  himself  from  the  sup- 
porting arms  of  his  subordinate. 

His  mind  was  still  in  a  dazed  condition,  as 
he  cried : 
"The     flag,      sergeant!      Get     the      flag 

down " 

"  Are  you  badly  hurt,  captain  ?"  the  soldier 
liroke  in. 

"  No  matter.  The  flag.  Down  with  the 
hated  thing;  and  it  makes  no  difference 
whether  I  am  badly  hurt  or  not.  Hasten!" 
Harry  Denver  did  not  know— could  not 
know  then— whether  his  wound  was  serious 
or  not.  ^     ,     , 

But  he  paused  not  to  consider  it.  He  had 
been  ordered  to  haul  down  the  defiant  bunt- 
ing that  flaunted  from  the  root  of  the  iun. 
and  his  paramount  thought,  even  in  the  pain 
which  he  was  enduring,  was  to  carry  out 
that  order. 

The  sergeant  bonnded  up  the  remainder  of 
the  stall  s  and  through  the  scuttle. 

In  a  few  nioiiieiits  hehad  whipped  the  flag 
from  its  halvnnl^.  and  appeared  again  with 

1I;',>  uil"  1  i -i:      I   at  the  dead  body  of  the 
i„i,.i  ,     .,,    ,      ,  1  iii'in  ..viii;.'  the  course  of  the 
gohli    I     .       .Ill     .Ml.-   What  they  did  ii 
gi,.,|,,  .    .i    i.iij  ■.ri  ..r   tile   murder  of 
<!ai>taiii,  Miii\'i|  -!i.j'M(-i.i  into  a  room    where 

tered    as  he'<.viiiiiiiei!  his  wound    by  the  aid 
r.f  „  1,'ui .  ,n-  tliere.     ■■  But  I  think  I  am  worth 
I  will  bleed,  I  an- 


"  Something's  burning,  captain, 
the  house  is  afire." 

An  unmistakable  odor  of  smoke  was  as- 
cending to  the  upper  stories  of  the  inn. 

While  the  scene  had  progressed  above, 
there  was  another  scene  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  building,  which  briefly  explained  this 
significant  odor. 

Dinah   and  the    boy.    Coal 
madeeverythiiigsecun 

retired  to  the  kitchen  in  some  trepidation 
for  the  resull  of  their  master  s intended  bold 
defiance  of  th.' Federal  soldiery. 

They  listened  in  positive  trembling  to  the 
sounds  that  told  of  the  front  door  being  bat- 
tered down. 

When  the  Unionists  had  forced  an  entrance 
and  were  heard  going  up  the  stairs,  Dinah, 
bearing  the  lamp  which  she  had  lighted  be- 
cause of  the  darkness  that  prevailed  after 
the  closing  of  all  the  windows,  beckoned  to 
Coal,  and  stole  forward  through  the  lower 
hall. 

At  the  moment  when  .she  reached  the  foot 
of  the  stairs,  and  as  she  craned  her  neck, 
throwing  one  black  ear  upward  to  catch 
what  might  be  transpiring  above,  there 
came  the  discharge  of  the  shotgi 
was  so  near  smiting  out 
Harry  Denver. 

Its  suddenness  caused  her  to  start :  the  lamp 
slipped  from  her  grasp  and  fell  with  a  crash  co 
the  floor,  its  oil  bursting  in  a  small  sheet  of 
flame  anil  iiearl  v  inveloping  her  clothes. 

Then  came  the  additiniial  sounds  of  strug- 
"le  and  the  snon  accompanying  shriek  of 
the  man  impaled  on  the  Federal  bayonets." 

"De  good  Lawd!  Hyar,  you.  Coal,  come 
'long  with  me.  Hi,  dar!  dey's  done  killed 
massa— I  knows  hit.  Come  'long  outen 
hyar!" 

The  two  ran  to  the  rear  of  the  building 
and  out  at  the  door  there,  making  with  all 
speed  toward  the  woods.  _ 

"  Come,"  -said  Captain  Denver,  rejoining 
his  men. 

With  sword  in  hand,  and  stepping  over 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  Confederate  cavalry- 
men, in  regard  to  which  no  remark  had  yet 
been  made,  he  led  the  way  down  stairs  and 
out  at  the  front  of  the  inn. 

The  hauling  down  of  the  flag  had  been 
witnessed  by  the  advanced  companies  of  the 
regiment  that  was  halted  at  the  base  of  the 
slope. 

When  the  little  squad  came  forth  and  took 
up  the  return  march,  another  cheer— like 
the  first  that  had  gone  up  when  the  flag  dis- 
appeared from  sight— greeted  them 
Duly  Denver  reported  "••  *'■■"' 
the  order.  ,        ,    . 

"  You  are  wounded  ?"  said  the  colonel,  in- 
terrogatively, as  he  came  up. 

"A  mere  scratch,  sir,"  Denver  replied. 
"  It  will  not  ini'apacitate  me,  I  assure  you." 
Hardly  had  Denver  returned  from  the  exe- 
cution of  the  order  to  haul  down  the  Con- 
federate flag  that  floated  from  Cobbs'  Rest, 
when  the  order  came  to  resume  march. 

The  regiment  moved  on  ;  and  as  it  went, 
there  could  be  seen  a  cloud  of  smoke  arising 
from  the  aucient  building  on  the  heights. 
Cobbs'  Rest  was  soon  to  be  no  more. 
But  hark! 

A  sound  of  war  suddenly  broke  upon  the 
ears  of  the  marching  regiment. 
There  was  a  boom  of  heavy  guns  ahead. 
Guns  of  the  light  battery  posted  by  the 
Confederates  on  the  heights   above  Freder- 
icksburg. .  .        .  .3 
Falmouth  had   been  long  since  deserted, 
with  the  knowledge   of   the   advance  of  the 
Union  army. 
Again  the  guns. 
The  van  of  Sumner' 


the    thoughts   and 


army   gets   hold    upo 
spirits  of  a  commander, 

On  this  occasion  it  was  well  known  that 
Sumner  was  for  crossing  at  once  by  the 
easily  available  fords  and  occupying  the 
town. 

But  orders  from  Burnside  held  him  back. 

There  halted  the  van  of  the  army,  in  com- 
parative iuactivity,  while  the  butternut 
host  was  massing,  massing,  massing,  on  the 
opposite  shores  and  crests  iu  constantly  in- 
creasing formidable  front. 

If  he'  could  not  cross,  the  commander  of 
this  grand  division  could  at  least  derive 
satisfa.itien  for  the  promptness  with  which 
the  Parrott  gnus  of  I'elitt  silenced  the  bark- 

From  Stafford  HeiL'hls,  Sumner  could  see 
the  Confederate  gunners  driven  from  their 
posts  by  the  shots  of  Petitt. 

CHAPTER  X. 

A   LOVEU    IN    GRAY. 

The  afternoon  was  shortening. 

While  Falmouth  was  thus  infested  by  the 
van  of  the  Uuion  army,  another  little  piece 
of  ourdiama  was  enacting  in  the  town  of 
Fredericksburg  that  must  be  here  detailed. 

One  of  the  most  notable  dwellings  of  the 
town  was  that  which  was  known  as  the  De- 
Kay  mansion. 

Arnold  DeKay  had  died  some  years  pre- 
vious to  the  date  of  this  narrative,  as  may  be 
seen  by  the  brief  conversation  between  the 
two  young  captains. 

The  property,  with  a  considerable  inherit- 
ance, had  reverted  wholly  to  Mildred  De- 
Kay,  an  only  child,  a  very  beautiful  girl 
now  at  the  verge  of  womanhood,  an  orphan 
and  much  sought  after  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  l>v  voung  Soutberiieis,  the 
sonsof  planters,  and  nearly  all  worthy  of 
her,  had  she  lieen  of  a  miinl  to  accept  their 
earnest  importunities  to  well. 

The  most  persistent  of  these  had  been  a 
dashing  fellow,  by  name  Vane  Artwell,  who 
had  early  accepted  a  lieutenancy  in  thearmy 
of  the  South. 

And  least  of  all  her  admirers  was  Artwell 
esteemed  by  the  Southern  girl,  because  of 
rumors  after  rumors  that  had  reached  her 
ears  of  his  habits  of  dissipation,  though  those 
habits  had  been  in  a  measure  carefully  con- 
cealed. 

Forsome  time  she  liad  been  relieved  of  his 
presence  and  his  continuous  offers  of  mar- 
riage, which  would  not  be  silenced  by  her 
own  as  regular  ret usals;  but  now,  when  Lee 
wni.coneentrati.i-  in  the  vleiuitv  of  Freder- 


llBllD 


:ades  of 


Jth. 


\  dozen  dead  men  yet ;  thi 


Th( 


ivision  was  entering 

the  Union  batteries 
Ml  those  on  the  opposite  heights 
More  oil  the  blue  columns  in  ma- 

that  were  to  meet  the  foe  again 
<s  of  the  Rappahannock. 

infrequent  that  a  portion  of  an 


whom  she  e.inlil  hardly  drive  peremptorily 
from  her  1„  lause  she  knew  that  his  profes- 
sions had  till  redeem  in;.'  ciiialilv  of  being  sin- 
cere, and  that  he  liad  wealth  ei'inngh  to  give 
her  the  home  which  he  was  begging  her  to 
accept.  . 

Ou  this  afternoon,  apprised  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Federal  army,  and  listening 
with  not  a  little  uneasiness  to  the  sounds  in 
the  street  that  told  of  constant  arrivals  of 
the  Southern  forces,  she  was  standing  at  her 
bedroom  window,  looking  toward  the  river, 
a  partial  view  of  which  she  had,  when  the 
old  and  faithful  negro  who  had  served  her 
parents  at  the  time  of  her  birth,  tapped  on 
the  door.  ^     ^ 

When  Snow  entered,  in  answer  to  her  rec- 
ognition of  his  knock,  his  teeth   were  show- 

"  He  am  down  dar.  Missy  Mild'ed." 
"Who,  Snow?"  „     „ 

"Doleftenant.  He  done  come  ag'in.  Shell 
I  tell  him  wot  yoii's  too  busy  fo'  to  see  him. 

"  No.   I  will  see  him.    You  may  say  that  I 
will  be  down  presently  " 
"Allright,  Missy  Mild'ed."  ,     ,„     ^ 

"I  have  made  up  my  mind  at  last,  she 
murmured,  when  again  alone,  "that  I  will 
be  rid  of  Lieutenant  Artwell  once  for  all  and 
finally.  It  it  is  necessary,  1  will  even  do 
what  I  have  not  heretofore  considered  nec- 
essary; I  will  tell  him  why  it  is  impossible 
for  me  even  to  listen  to  his  suit,  that  I  am 
the  promised  of  another.  And  though  1 
have  never  seen  that  other,  my  mind  is  made 
up  to  fulfill  the  dying  wishes  of  a  father  who 
was  ever  kind  to  me  and  wed  the  person 
when  he  shall  present  himself  tinil  his  claim. 
It  is  not  a  re.solutiou  that  gives  me  any  bap- 
Diness-tlil-  deterinlnatmu  to  many  a  man 
1  knew  11. .thin- .if,  and  it  may  be  that  he 
hnsiiiii-  I  !  ..  \..lto  disregard  the  con- 
^^-  -  ■        by  thir 


THE  WAR  IIBRARY. 


wife,  and  i£  he  was  a  worthy  man,  I  would 
be  his  even  if  I  could  not  feel  the  love  for 
him  tliat  a  woman  should  feel  for  the  man 
she  accepts  for  her  husband.  Yes,  I  will 
keep  tlie  pledge  1  gave  my  dyiug  father." 

Pausing  for  a  few  liasty  touclies  to  her 
toilet,  she  descended  to  the  parlor. 

Seated  there  in  waiiiug  was  a  young  mau 
it  handsome  feature  and  muscular  build. 

An  offlcer  in  the  uniform  of  a  Confederate 
Sen  tenant. 

"  Miss  Mildred,"  he  saluted,  bowing. 

"Mr.   ,  or,    I    should   say.  Lieutenant 

Artwell,"  she  returned,  calmly,  and  sweep- 
ing across  to  a  chair. 

"  I  have  made  bold  to  call  after  an  absence 
that  has  been  a  long  trial  to  me,"  he  con- 
tinued. "1  have,  fortunately,  once  again 
reached  your  charming  presence.  The  first 
opportunity  tbiit  occuned,  1  have  taken  to 
show  you  that  I  have  still  survived  the  Yan- 
kee bullets." 

"You  are  to  be  congratulated." 

•'  Are  you  uot  positively  glad  ?  '  Congratu- 
late'is  a  mild  word  from  you  for  one  who 
has  been  so  very  devoted " 

"liieutenaut  Artwell,"  she  interrupted,  in 
away  that  caused  him  to  pause  before  her 
aa  he  was  advunoiiig  to  take  a  seat  by  her 
side.  "I  had  hesitated  to  see  you  at  ail  to- 
day. My  reason  is,  that  I  can  foresee  what 
will  transpire  before  you  leave  me.  I  have 
a  great  amount  of  patience,  because,  not- 
withstanding your  annoyance  of  me  in  the 
past,  I  realize  that  you  are  a  gentleman,  of 
an  honored  family,  and  you  are  sincere  in 
the  motive  which  attracts  you  so  much  to 
me.  But  it  is  as  well  that  we  should  under- 
stand one  another  finally  and  forever." 

Though  this  premise  might  have  given 
him  a  hint  of  what  was  to  ensue,  he  did  not 
relax  the  smile  on  the  handsome  face;  and 
with  another  bow  waited  for  her  to  pro- 
ceed. 

"  I  have  told  you  that  I  can  never  accept 
your  ofi'er  of  marriage,"  Mildred  pursued. 
"  Please  do  me  the  favor  to  receive  that  an- 
nouncement now— though  you  have  uot 
seemed  inclined  to  do  so  before— as  utterly 
flual.  ' 

"  Faint  heart  never  won  fair  lady,  they 
say,"  rejoined  the  Confederate.  "  I  have 
hopes  of  one  day  winning  you,  Mildred,  de- 
spite this  last  and  most  emphatic  refusal  of 
all.  Indeed,  I  am  here  to-day  to  plead  again 
with  you,  that  you  may  make  me  the  hap- 
piest man  in  the  world,  and  permit  me  to 
prove  that  I  can  and  will  make  your  life  all 
that  a  woman  could  desire " 

"  It  is  useless.  And  to  show  you  how  use- 
less it  is,  I  have  decided  to  tell  you  some- 
thing that  I  had  hoped  would       '  ' 


The  smile  faded  from  Vane  Artwell's  face, 
and  he  lookedather  first  incredulously,  theu 
trowningly. 

"  Another  ?"  he  repeated. 

"Yes,  another." 

"Who?" 

"  I  do  not  comprehend  that  it 
for  me  to  say  more  than  I  have.' 

A  moment's  silence,  and  then  he  laughed 
lowly. 

"  I  see.  You  use  this  declaration  as  a  mere 
artifice    to    make    me     drop    the    subject. 


I  necessary 


"  It  is  no  artifice,  sir,  nor  am  I  in  the  habit 
of  using  such.  And  now  you  will  please  ex- 
cuse me.    I  am  engaged." 

She  arose  and  would  have  left  the  parlor. 

He  intercepted  her,  with  one  arm  out- 
stretched. 

•'  Wait,  please." 

"What  is  it." 

"If  it  is  as  you  say,  tell  me  who  this  man 
.is  who  has  won  you  from  me." 

"  I  never  was  yours,  though  you  may  have 
been  conceited  enough  to  Imagine  so,"  she 
broke  in ,  with  some  spirit. 

"At least,  where  is  he?  Of  all  whom  I 
know  to  have  been  racing  with  me  for  the 
favor  of  your  smiles,  which  one  is  it  that  has 
been  so  fortunate." 

"  I  will  tell  you  that  the  gentleman  is  one 
whom  you  have  never  seen." 

"  I  would  like  to  see  him,"  with  an  accent 
of  latent  menace. 

"Why?" 

"Because  I  would  soon  show  him  that 
Mildred  DeKay  is  not  to  be  won  from  me 
without  a  struggle  that  involves  a  little 
bloodshed." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  would  find  him  as 
good  a  mau  as  yourself,  sir." 

"  Then  tell  me  where  to  seek  him.' 

In  an  impulse  for  which  she  could  not  ao- 


Northern  army,  for  I  have  understood  that 


■  Ha 


bric 


■of  ( 


'  So  look  for  1 


then,  in  the  ranks  of  the 


Id  red;  I  tell  you  here,  on  this 
spot,  that  I  will  find  the  man  it  you  will  give 
mehisuame.    Dare  you  do  it?" 

In  anollier  impulse  she  answered  almost 
before  she  knew  that  the  words  had  left  her 

"His  name  is  Harry  Denver.  Find  and 
meet  him  if  you  dare !" 

"  I  shall,  and  with  this  sword  !" 

He  grasped  the  sword  at  his  side,  and  half 
drew  it. 

But  the  speech  of  fire  that  was  about  to 
burst  from  him  was  interrupted  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  old  negro.  Snow,  who 
came  in  unceremoniously  at  the  door,  say- 
ing: 

"  De  Revrund  Mistah  Samuels." 

Close  on  the  announcement  entered  a  cler- 
ical looking  gentleman,  who  immediately 
said  : 

"  Tut,  tut,  sir !  What  are  you  about  to  do  ? 
Draw  your  sword  in  the  presence  of  a  lady  ?" 

"Mr.  Samuels,  I  am  more  glad  than  I  can 
tell  you  that  vou  have  come.  Pray  te  at 
home." 

She  went  to  the  clergymau's  side  and  took 
his  hand  warmly. 

They  were  evidently  well  acquainted. 

Artwell  had  never  seen  the  man  at  the 
mansion  on  any  of  his  former  and  frequent 

At  this  particular  instant  he  looked  upon 
the  sudden  intrusion  with  an  emotion  of  an- 
ger, as  he  forsaw  that  his  interview  with 
Mildred  could  no  longer  be  private. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE   MUSCLE   OF   B.tTTERY    UOB. 

Mildred  may  have  been  correct  in  her  e.v- 
pression  of  knowledge  that  Vane  Artwell 
came  of  an  honored  family  and  was  a  gen- 
tleman. 

But  perhaps  recent  and  active  contact 
with  the  army  had  taken  much  of  the 
polish  from  his  nature,  which  would  account 
for  the  brusque  manner  of  his  inquiry  : 

"  Who  are  you,  sir?" 

"  I  am  named  Samuel  Samuels.  As  you 
may  perceive,  I  am  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel." 

"Well,  this  young  lady  and  myself  are  en- 
gaged at  present  in  discussing  a  matter  of 
business,  and  you  will  oblige  us  by  with- 
drawing until  it  is  finished " 

"  Lieutenant  Artwell !" 

The  girl's  voice  broke  in  upon  him  with 
sharp  hauteur. 

And  she  added : 

"  Please  understand  that  I  am  in  my  own 
house;  and  not  unless  I  make  such  a  request 
as  that  of  my  visitors,  are  they  called  upon 
in  the  least  to  regard  it." 

"Quite  right,  my  dear  young  lady,"  said 
Samuels,  suavely.  "  I  greatly  fear  1  was 
Justin  time  to  prevent  a  very  unpleasant  ex- 
hibition on  the  part  of  this  youug  man. 
Might  I  ask  what  is  the  matter  with  him  ?" 

"The  matter  is,  "  exclaimed  Artwell,  red- 
dening under  the  rebuke  from  Mildred's 
lip3,  "  that  I  meant  just  what  I  said.  And  if 
you  do  not  regard  it,  I  shall  call  in  my  guard 
which  you  may  have  observed  on  the  out- 
side as  you  came  in,  and  have  you  flung  out. 
These  are  not  times  when  even  a  minister's 
garb  will  protect  the  man  if  he  makes  him- 
self obnoxious.  I  have  come  here  to  have  a 
talk  with  this  lady.  It  is  of  a  private  char- 
acter. I  give  you  just  two  minutes  to  make 
yourself  scarce." 

Mildred  had  listened  in  blushing  amaze- 
ment to  this  speech  from  one  whom  she 
thought  heretofore  to  possess  a  degree  of 
gentlemanly  politeness. 

A  hot  retort  was  upon  her  red  lips. 

But  the  Reverend  Samuels  raised  one  hand 
to  check  her,  while  he  said  calmly  to  the 
lieutenant : 

"  Have  you  a  watch  ?" 

"  A  watch  ?"  repeated  Artwell. 

"Yes— a  watch." 

"  Why  do  you  ask  that  ?" 

"  Because   I  want  you   to  count   the   two 

"  What  then  ?" 

"At  the  expiration  of  that  time  I  intend 
to  take  you  by  the  neck,  sir,  and  throw  you 
out  among  your  vassals  on  the  pavement," 
was  the  cool  reply. 

The  words   were  so  astonishing  that  for  a 


second  they 


the  hot  young 


Southerner  dumb. 

Then  he  uttered  a  halt  suppressed  oath. 

"  I  shall  not  even  call  in  my  men  to  drag 
you  out  of  here!"  he  cried.  "IJut  I  will  my- 
self teach   you  a  lesson   that  may  go  a  great 


way  with  others  like  you  who  imagine  that 
because  they  wear  that  garb  they  can  say 
and  do  as  they  please." 

He  took  a  h'asiy  step  townnl  the  cool-faced 

Mildred  uttfi-i'ii  a  litilc  cry.  and  would 
have  thrown  heisclt  between 

But  again  the  Reverend  Samuels  waved 
her  aside. 

Three  steps  only  did  the  young  officer 
take. 

Then  something  happened  which  showed 
him  that  there  is  sometimes  a  strength  in 
the  arms  of  a  clergyman  that  must  be  re- 
garded with  circumspection. 

Out  and  straight  from  the  shoulder  shot 
the  fist  of  the  Reverend  Samuels. 

Thuck  !  sound  the  knuckles  of  that  fist  in 
the  face  of  Artwell,  who  suddenly  found 
himtelt  spinning  helplessly  backward  until 
he  fell  with  an  awkward  sprawl  over  a 
chair 

Though  severely  dealt  with  and  surprised 
by  the  adroitiess  of  the  blow,  he  was  uot  in 
the  least  stunned,  and  quickly  gathered 
himself  up. 

"By  my  soul!"  he  snapped,  with  flaming 
face.    "  I  will  be  even  with  you  for  that !" 

Forward  he  came  again. 

This  time  he  was  wary. 

As  Mildred  shrank  from  these  combatants 
m  her  parlor,  she  saw  the  lieutenant,  by  a 
clever  dodge,  gain  an  entrance  within  the 
guard  which  the  clergyman  had  thrown  up 
to  meet  him,  and  there  instantly  followed  a 


fierce  wrestling  struggle. 
"I  have  you  now,"  hi 


you  now,"  hissed  Artwell,  who 
had  instantly  conceived  the  idea  that  his 
antagonist  was  something  more  than  his 
garb  indicated. 

In  pursuance  of  this  suspicion,  he  devoted 
one  hand  to  the  task  of  tearing  away  the 
stiff  collar  at  the  clergyman's  throat  while 
he  maintained  the  struggle  with  the  other. 

Presently  he  uttered  another  exclamation 
that  showed  he  was  surprised  himself  by  the 
result  of  that  wresting  gripe  on  Samuels' 
collar. 

Away  came  collar  and  button.  The  tight 
fitting  coat  was  torn  loose  at  the  front,  and 
lo!  underneath  was  revealed  the  upper  of  a 
blue  blouse  with  its  shiny  brass  buttons 
having  on  them  the  monogramed  letters 
U.  S.! 

In  the  effort  for  the  mastery  the  specta- 
cles were  also  dashed  aside;  next  fell  the 
har,  revealing  a  head  of  close  cropped  hair. 

Fiudini;  himself  thus  discovered  at  least  to 
be  a  L'niouist  the  voice  of  1 
cried  . 

"  Here's  at  you,  bold  Johnny  '." 

Accompanying  the  words,  he  performed  a 
feat  that  was  a  marvel  of  strength  and 
prowess. 

Lieutenant  Artwell  found   himself  lifted 


kicking  in  the  air. 

Then  he  was  hurled  across  the  room,  in 
what  almost  seemed  to  be  the  course  of  an 
arch,  and  went  crashing  through  the  rear 
window  onto  the  veranda  without. 

While  the  lieutenant  lay  there  insensible 
from  the  shock  of  his  violent  fall,  Robert 
Ross  stepped  quickly  to  the  side  of  Mildred. 

"  Miss  DeKay,"  he  said,  speaking  rapidly. 
"I  have  visited  you  often,  and  I  am  sure 
never  suspected  the  truth  until  now. 
spy 


Yes,  I  am  a  Yankee— I  am 
here  in  Fredericksburg.  That  man  w; 
noying  you ;  I  heard  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  dialogue  before  coming  in.  I  am  sorry  I 
had  to  expose  myself  to  relieve  you.  But 
having  done  so,  will  you  call  in  the  squad 
which  IS  on  the  pavement " 

"  Assuredly  no,"  the  girl  interrupted.  "  To 
the  contrary,  my  heart  is  with  you  and  your 
army.  I  thank  you  for  having  become  my 
champion." 

"You  say  your  heart  is  with  the  army  of 
the  North?" 

"  It  has  ever  been  since  the  commencement 
of  the  war." 

"Then  why  do  you  remain  in  the  South, 
where  there  are  so  many  perils  for  one  of 
your  sex,  and  these  increasing  every  day? 
Why  not  seek  the  North,  where  you  will  be 
safe  from  the  annoyance  of  such  men  as 
that?"  and  he  pointed  toward  the  veranda, 
indicating  the  prostrate  and  motionless  form 
of  Artwell. 

"I  have  not  much  to  keep  me  here — only 
this  old  mansion,  which  I  inherit  from  my 
father  and  in  which  I  was  born.  My  father 
had  nearly  all  of  his  investments  iu  the 
North,  and  I  have  bern  debarred  from  any 
knowledge  of  them  since  the  war.  So,  you 
see,  there  is  really  an  inducement  for  me  to 
;et  to  the  North  if  1  can  I  have  been  think- 
ng  8f  it  more  thi.i  day  than  ever  before." 


'J  // 


10 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


Battery  Bob  was  silent  for  a  moment, 
thinking. 

"Suppose  you  commit  yourself  to  my 
care,"  he  said.  "  I  will  go  so  far  as  to  place 
you  on  your  way  safely,  though  I  cannot  re- 
main with  you." 

"  Who  are  vou  ?"  the  sirl  asked. 

"  My  uame"js  Robert  Ross.  I  am  known  as 
Battery  Bob." 

"  Ah  !  I  have  heard  that  name." 

Even  into  the  little  town  of  Fredericks- 
burg had  wafted  the  rumor  of  the  strange 
man  who  had  distinguished  himself  iu  the 
scoutiug  forays  before  the  Iiattle  of  the  An- 
tietaiu  by  the  singular  manner  he  had  of 
flghtiug  with  his  enemies. 

"  If  vou  will  consent  to  the  venture,"  he 
pursued,  quickly,  "let  me  urge  that  the 
sooner  the  start  is  made  the  better.    Hark!" 

There  was  a  sound  of  heavy  tramping  feet 
in  the  hall  without,  as  of  several  men  hav- 
ing entered,  and  a  rough,  bowel-like  voice 
was  e.\claimiug: 

"Ho,  here!  Somebody— where  are  you? 
Blast  It,  there  must  be  somebody  at  home, 
judging  by  the  crash  I  heard.  And  I  am  of 
the  opinion  lliat  something  may  have  hap- 
pened to  the  lieutenant." 

The  voice  of  the  cavalryman.  Lieutenant 
Rorv  Bolt. 

With  a  dextrous  rapidity.  Battery  Bob  re- 
sumed the  neat  disguise  which  had  been  torn 
from  him  in  his  encounter  with  Lieutenant 
Artwell. 

"Not  a  moment  is  to  be  lost.  Miss  DeKay, 
if  you  are  going  with  me.  Those  men  will 
be"in  here  in  a  minute ;  the  body  of  the  lieu- 
tenant will  be  discoTered,  and  I  recognize 
that  to  be  the  voice  of  another  lieutenant,  a 
boon  companion  of  the  man  I  have  worsted, 
who  is  both  bold  and  devilish,  He  would 
like  to  find  me  here  more  than  any  other 
man  in  the  world.  How  long  will  it  take 
you  to  prepare,  while  I  secrete  myself  out 
therein  the  garden?" 

Mildred  smiled. 

"It  will  take  me  no  longer  than  the  time 
necessary  to  tie  mv  bonnet  strings.  I  said 
I  had  thought  seriously  to-day  of  leaving 
Fredericksburg  if  I  could.  You  may  even 
perceivethat  I  am  attired  in  riding  habit.  I 
will  leave  the  house  with  Snow,  knowing 
that  it  will  be  safe  in  his  hands  it  no  unusual 
event  transpires.  And  if  ever  this  cruel 
war  should  end,  I  may  return  to  my  old 
home " 

"  Come,  then,"  he  urged,  before  she  had 
finished  speaking. 

Already  the  tramp  of  the  cavalrymen  who 
had  ;  ccompanied  Lieutenant  Artwell  to  the 
bouse  were  sounding  close  to  the  door. 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

A  FLIGHT  FBOM  HOMB. 

Having  resolved  to  accompany  the  young 
Unionist  to  a  place  whence  she  could  pass 
the  Federal  lines  and  proceed  northward, 
Mildred  showed  him  the  next  moment  that 
she  was  indeed  prepared  for  the  journey  at 
short  notice. 

"  Come,"  she  said,  "  1  am  ready.  My  hat 
is  close  at  hand." 


At  the  outer  side  of  the  veranda  hung  her 
hat  and  a  small  satchel. 

"You  si'e,"  taking  both  of  these  in  hand, 
"I  was  ahnost  on  the  point  of  departing 
alone " 

She  stopped  phort  in  her  fpeech  as  a  sound 
from  the  parlor  beyond  told  that  the  Cou- 
feiierates  who  were  led  by  Rory  Bolt  had 
entered  there  and  were  looking  about  for 
some  explanation  of  the  recent  crash  of  glass 
thevlKidlieanl. 

N.it  a  iiiiiiiiti'  was  to  be  lost. 

Su  il  i-(.i,iif'l  hlie  led  the  way  down  the 
out'' ■^tt■|l^^  :uh1  along  the  garden  path  to- 
wan  i  ;i  ^^;ile  in  tin  low  stone  wall. 

Prc-.-eutly  tliey  had  left  the  premises  and 
were  hastening  away  iu  the  direction  of  the 

The  DeKay  mansion  was  situated  at  or 
near  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town,  and 


t  is  our  safest  course,"  remarked  Ross, 
<'y  proceeded  rapidly.  "  We  are  lucky 
vo  wavs ;  the  attack  on  Fredericksburg 
;pe 'led  more  in  direct  opposite  to  the 
1,  mid  the  situation  of  your  house  is 
3  distance  from  the  center  of  excile- 
t  which  is  prevailing  among  the  inhab- 
ts.  Hasten." 
wa-i  nearly  dusk, 
u- light  battery   whieli  had  oppossd  the 


nltory  t 

Several  companies  of  the  Mississippi  infant- 
ry were  being  hurried  to  the  water-front  of 
the  town, tlieirinarch  somewhat  em  l)arrassed 
by  the  half  panic-stricken  crowd  of  people 
wliich,  iu  pcattering  groups,  either  pursued 
a  similar  cmirse  or  rushed  excitedly  in  a  con- 
trary direction. 

The  progress  of  our  couple  was  not  inter- 
ferred  with. 

The  clerical  garb  of  our  Federal  spy,  and 
the  fact  of  his  being  accompanied  by  a  young 
and  beautiful  girl,  allayed  any  suspicion 
that  miglit  have  arisen  regarding  them. 

At  a  point  nearly  two  miles  above  the 
town,  where  but  a  narrow  strip  through 
which  ran  the  canal  separated  the  rising  liill 
from  the  Rappahannock,  Ross  suggested 
that  they  pause  for  a  rest. 

The  vicinity  was  not  yet  occupied  per- 
manently by  any  of  the  "forces  which  Lee 
was  so  rapiillv  concentrating  on  that  side  of 
the  river,  aii(i  Iji' cniisiih  red  (lie  spot  pretty 
safe  from  clan^-'r  of  iiHili-talion. 

"Yes,  1  am  ^^  tai  y,  "  hli"  a.l  luitted,  as  f  hey 
seated  tliemsflvi-s  (.11  ii  Iti^',  "and  while  we 
are  resting,   sir,   1  would  like  to  ask  a  few 


"As  yon  are  a  Union  soldier,  perhaps  you 
can  give  me  the  information  which  I  par- 
ticularly seek.  Before  asking  the  question, 
however,  let  me  explain  briefly  a  little  secret 
of  my  life " 

"  It  it  is  a  secret.  Miss  DeKay,  would  it  not 
be  best  for  you  to  preserve  it  ? ' 

"It  is  not  so  wonderfully  secret  as  that. 
Listen,  please.  You  may  be  surprised  to 
hear  that  I  am  the  betrothed  of  a  man  whom 
I  liave  never  seen.  We  were  pledged  to  one 
another  by  our  fathers  when  mere  infants.  I 
learned  this  from  my  father  on  his  dying 
bed,  which  transpired,  as  j-ou  have  learned, 
just  at  the  commencement  of  the  war.  The 
father  of  this  young  man,  it  seems,  owed 
my  father  a  large  sum  of  money.  My  father 
agreed  that  if  the  young  man  would  carry 
out  the  marriage  contract  (he  debt  should 
be  considered  canceled;  otherwise,  I  waste 
prosecute  the  claim  at  earliest  opportuiiity 
as  his  heir.  This  party,  my  father  said,  had 
received  a  commission  iu  the  Union  army, 
then  concentrating  at  Washington.  I  desire 
to  find  him,  it  such  a  thing  is  possible.  If  we 
can  find  that  in  each  other  to  make  a  union 
desirable,  lam  ready  to  carry  out  the  in- 
struction of  my  father  and  wed  with  him; 
if  not,  then  my  mind  is  made  up  to  devi- 
ate from  the  instruction  to  the  extent  of  re- 
linquishing all  claim  upon  him,  giving  him  a 
receipt  for  the  amount  which  his  father  owed 
my  father." 

"  Yon  are  fully   the  generous  girl  which 
your  face  speaks  you   to   be,"  said  Ross,  ad- 
Then  lie  asUed  : 

"  What  is  the  name  of  this  young  gentle- 
man who  may  have  Iha  opportunity  of  wed- 
ding with  so  I'sliinable  alady  as  you  are?" 

"  Denver— Henry  Denver — — " 

;  know  him  well!"  he  instantly  ex- 


'J:' 


claii 

"  Do  you?"  eagerly.  "lam  glad  of  that. 
Oh,  tell  me  what  ho  looks  like?"  she  at  once 
demanded,  with  all  a  woman's  natural  curi- 

"  I  will  tell  you  that  lie  is  a  hue  peiilleman 
and  a  true  soldier.  He  distinguished  himself 
particularly  in  the  Anlietam,  and  I 
shouldn't  be  surpised  to  liear  of  his  early 
promotion  for  bravery  and  talent." 

The  eyes  of  the  lovely  girl  were  sparkling 
as  she  listened ;  she  seemed  to  be  fairly 
drinking  in  every  word  he  uttered. 

"  And— and "    she    said,    hesitatingly, 

"  he  is  not  yet  married  ?" 

Ro-s  looked  at  her,  smiling. 

"No;  not  married.  Yuii  appear  to  be  al- 
ready interested  in  him.  Miss  DeKay  ?" 

"Ah!  that  is  because  I  know  if  he  is  what 
you  say,  ho  must  also  be  a  worthy  man  at 
heart,  and  |)erhaps— but  no  matter.  You 
can  tell  me  where  to  find  him?" 

"  lie  is  now  in  the  army  marching  on 
Fredericksburg." 

"So  close  as  that?" 

"But  see,"  he  said,  ri,sing,  "it  is  nearly 
dark.  We  had  better  tie  moving.  I  have  an 
important  engagement  in  thi«  vicinity  as 
soon  as  night  has  fully  set  in.  I  must  go  back 
to  the  city." 

"Then  you  may  be  caught " 

"Oh,  no;  I  have  no  tear  of  that.  I  may 
assume  another  disguise.  Come,  we  shall 
oross  at  a  short  distance  above  here. 


A  little  further  up  the  stream  lloss  had  a 
boat  tied. 

Unmooring  the  small  craft,  he  placed  her 
comfortably  in  tlie  bow  and  pushed  off  for 
the  opposite  shore,  where  the  spectral  front 
of  the  hills  rose  frnwniimly. 

Indue  time  they  readied  the  other  side, 
and  he  led  the  way  along  a  narrow  path  that 
afforded  an  apology  for  an  ascent  of  the  al- 
most perpendicular  hill. 

"  It  is  very  quiet  here  now,"  Ross  said,  as 
they  made  their  way  along  somewhat  tedi- 
ously. "  But  you  will  find  ere  long  that 
there  will  be  noise  enough  amid  these  hills — 
noise  to  tell  of  the  death  of  brave  men;- 
deaths,  too,  that  I  sadly  fear  are  to  avail 
nothing  for  the  Union  army." 

"You  do  not  think  they  will  captur* 
Fredericksburg  ?" 

"Hardly.  It  they  do,  the  cost  will  b« 
more  than  the  thing  is  worth.    Hark  !" 

He  paused  suddenly,  liolding  her  back,  a« 
a  thrilling  sound  just  then  came  to  their 
ears  from  a  point  above. 

It  was  the  deep,  sonorous  bay  of  a  blood- 
hound. 

The  note  was  well  known  to  Mildred,  and 
as  she  stood  she  could  not  repress  a  slight 
tremble  of  apprehension. 

"A  hound!  "  she  exclaimed.  "A  hound 
loose  in  this  wild  place.  I  know  by  his  ps- 
culiar  note  that  he  is  searching  for  soma 
one— following  a  trail." 

"His  master,  from  whom  he  has  becoma 
lost,"  suggested  Ross,  to  allay  her  feari, 
though  he  had  instantly  recognized  in  th« 
voice  of  that  hound  the  voice  of  thesam* 
one  which  he  had  encountered  during  the 
day. 

"No,"  Mildred  disputed.  "I  know  the 
note.  That  houud  is  on  a  (rail.  Suppose  h« 
should  come  upon  us,  and  in  the  darknesi 
mistake  us  for  the  party  he  ia  tracking. 

"  Be  guided  by  me " 

"  It  is  coming  closer  I" 

And  so  it  seemed ;  the  notes  that  told  of  a 
bloodhound  on  a  trail  were  momentarily 
drawing  nearer. 

Ross  acted  promptly,  and  with  the  only 
facility  at  command. 

Directly  overhead  he  perceived  an  extend- 
ing tree  bough  which  was,  however,  several 
feet  above  his  greatest  capacity  for  a  leap. 

But  Mildred  .saw  hbn  whip  open  the  front 
of  his  clerical  coat,  and   llu'n   fiom  his  waist 

"  I  carry  (his  handy  f'u-  many  emergencies, 
of  which  "this  is  one,"  he  said,  while  taking 
the  rope  rapidly  from  his  person  and  care- 
fully coiling  it  at  his  feet  at  the  same  time  to 
avoid  a  tangle. 

Next  he  threw  the  rope  dexterously  over 
the  limb  above,  and  in  another  moment  wa» 
drawing  himself  upward. 

A  moment  more,  and  the  rope  came  dang- 
ling downward  at  her  side,  while  he  called  : 

"  1  have  made  a  slip  iu  the  end.  Miss  De- 
Kay. Place  it  beneath  your  arms  and  I  will 
draw  you  np  to  safety " 

"But  why  not  have  gone  up  the  body  of 
the  tree,"  she  questioned,  with  some  hesita- 
tion at  the  novel  proceeding. 

"  Because,  it  our  trail  ends  at  the  tree,  and 
if  there  are  masters  following  the  hound,  it 
will  be  discovered  at  once  that  we  are  here. 
Asit  is,  the  brute  will  be  baffled.  Haste! 
the  dog  is  almost  hero!" 

This  announcement  decided  her. 

Obeying  his  instruction,  she  placed  the 
slip  beneath  her  arms,  and  then  the  strong 
muscles  of  the  spy  raised  her  clear  of  th» 
ground. 

CHAPTER  XIIL 

ETHEL'S  THRILLING    EXPEKIENCE. 

Hardly  had  Mildred  been  placed  safely  be- 
side the  strong-armed  man,  when  there  wu» 
aiushing  sound  beneath  the  tree. 

But  it  was  not  such  a  sound  as  would  b» 
made  by  the  passage  of  the  beast  they  were 
anticipating. 

There  was  an  unmistakable  patter  of  foot- 


steps. 
They 


"  Save  roe.  Heaven  !  for  I  tear  I  cannot  go 
much  further!  Ah,  I  shall  soon  fall  a  vic- 
tim to  that  beast  who  has  followed  me  for 
long  and  terrible  hours,  and  I  have  wonder- 
ed why  he  has  not  ere  this  fallen  upon  me 

and  devoured  me "  the  rest  of  (ho  panted 

words  being  lost  as  the  utterer  sped  past  the 
spot  iu  a  wild  and  weary  flight  before  the 
savage  pursuer. 

At  sound  of  the  voice,  Ross  had  started  so 
greatly  as  to  nearly  lose  his  balance  upon  the 
limb. 

"  My  God!"  he  burst  forth.  "Am  I  sure- 
ly awake?  That  is  the  voice  of  Ethel!  She 
is  pursued  by  the  bloodhound  I" 


J    0 
THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


11 


Before  Mildred  could  ask  for  an  explana- 
tion of  bia  words,  he  added,  to  her : 

"jReraaiu  hero  until  I  return.  I  must  go  to 
theaid  of  that  peraou,  who  is  dearer  to  me 
than  my  own  lifel" 

The  uext  instant  he  had  swung  from  the 
bough,  dropping  to  the  ground  direotly  in 
the  path  of  the  (Hicoming  liound. 

Here  he  hesitiil.-d  f.ii-  just  one  fpcond  na  to 
whether  be  slidiil.l  wail  llii>  runiin-  nf  tlu' 
animal  or  hiislnn  uft.-r  i  hr  i>w^  \v  Iumii  In-  ijuii 
"  recognized  as  liis  liri  r.il  lit-il,  tht-  iiin-k.-ciu-r  s 
daughter,  thus  meiiaceii  by  alK.iiibl.i  peril. 

On  the  latter  course  be  decided,  turiiiufr 
and  plunging  down  the  narrow  path,  calling 
as  beran : 

"Etiiel!  Ethel!  Wait,  there.  It  is  I,  dar- 
ling—wait  lor  niel" 

"Robert!  Robert!"  answered  the  girl's 
voice,  as  if  iu  the  distance. 

But  he  knew  the  meaning  of  the  faint 
tones. 

E-xhausted  at  hist,  after  a  cbase  for  hours, 
she  bad  faiJHu  !irli)!(':-slv  and  hopelessly  at 
theeide  of  ihf  imili. 

With  quick  1 II. I-  lir  r.-ached  lier. 

A  cry  of  glailiicss  (  ame  frnni  Irer  dry  lips, 
for  she  felt  tliat  she  was  now  saved  from  the 
terrible  fangs. 

"It  is  Durga,  my  father's  most  savage 
hound— It  1  except  two  other  hound  which 
he  purchased  from  Captain  Digli.y,  of  Fred- 
ericksburg. He  is  a  monster— Ah"!  I  am  out 
of  breath!"  and  having  raised  her  head  to 
grasp  these  few  words,  she  sunk  back  upon 
the  ground. 

Again  the  bay  of  the  advancing  hound. 

But  now  Ross  noticed  something  iu  the  ac- 
cent that  had  not  attracted  him   previously. 

There  seemed  to  him  to  be  a  tenor  of  dis- 
tress in  the  sound  that  issued  from  the  red 
throat. 

After  listening  for  a  few  seconds,  he  be- 
came convinced  that  though  the  animal  was 
following  Ethel's  trail,  he  was  not  coming 
swiftly,  as  a  hound  would  if  thirsty  to  secure 
a  prey. 

What  could  that  mean  ? 

Yes,  slowly  the  beast  was  coming,  yet  fast 
f  nough  to  have  kept  him  close,  as  it  were,  in 
Ethel's  rear. 

Revolver  in  baud  he  waited. 
Through  the  gloom   he  presently  saw  the 
hound  coming. 


It  was  Durga. 

Surely  no  beast  of  his  kind  ever  pursued  a 
human  after  the  singular  manner  which 
marked  his  actions  now. 

Even  in  the  uncertain  light  of  that  early 
hour  of  night  and  ou  the  woody  hill,  Ross 
perceived  that  the  animal  was  actually  stag- 
gering in  a  lilind  way  while  he  came  for- 
ward, throwing  his  nozzle  from  side  to  side 
and  anon  back  to  the  ground  to  snuff  the 
trail;  and  almost  constantly  came  from  his 
bone-paved  throat  those  sounds  that  were 
part  bark,  part  l)ay,  part  yelp. 

While  he  stood  lost  in  some  wonderment, 


he  actually  permitted  the  dog  to  reach  him, 
pass  him  and  approach  Ethel. 
There  was  no  flual  note  to  indicate  a  sav- 


age glee  in  at  last  coming  up  with  his  quar- 
ry, no  spring  that  follows  the  sighting  of 
one  upon  whom  he  would  hurl  himself  fero- 
ciously. 

Instead,  the  great  brute  uttered  a  whine 
that  contained  something  like  an  accent  of 
delight,  and  began  to  lick  the  hand  ot  the 
girl  who  lay  nearly  motionless  in  combined 
exhaustion  and  fear. 

Durga  was  making  much  over  the  girl, 
moving  about  her  in  a  positively  caressing 
manner. 

Curious  in  his  astonishment,  Ross  lighted  a 
match. 

By  its  flickering  flame  the  tale  was  told. 

Durga'9  head  was  a  sight  to  behold,  cov- 
ered with  clots  of  blood,  and  a  closer  glance 
revealed  that  both  of  his  eyes  had  been  com- 
pletely destroyed. 

To  Ross  the  explanation  was  plain  now. 

This  was  the  result  of  his  encounter  with 
Durga  in  the  woods  that  morning.  The 
brute's  eyes  had  been  destroyed  by  that  ter- 
rible little  engine  of  slugs  and  buckshot 
which  the  spy  carried  and  worked  with  a 
orank. 

Tbe  dog,  realizing  his  helplessness  with  al- 
most human  intelligence,  and  accidentally 
striking  a  trail,  had  followed  in  the  antici- 
pation that  the  human,  whoever  it  might 
fae,  would  take  pity  upon  and  succor  him. 

All  the  fierceness  of  his  nature  was  appar- 
ently gone  with  the  knowledge  that  he  was 
bliud. 

This  condition  of  affairs  he  hastened  to  ex- 
plain to  Ethel. 


Leading  the  dog  by  the  ear,  and  snppoi't- 
ing  Ethel  on  his  oilier  arm,  he  returned  to 
the  tree  where  he  had  left  Mildred. 

On  the  way  he  asked  : 

"  Why  do  I  find  you  here,  darling?  What 
could  have  brought  you  from  your  father's 
house  into  the  woods  at  such  a  time?" 

"Ah,  Robert,  I  have  had  such  an  experi- 
ence today  as  T  hope  never  to  have  again. 

iireu  iiiicoiis(ioi;s  for  awhile,  for  I  was 
rongbly  trealrd,  1  <-nn  tell  you,  by  those 
men  wiio  were  in  pursuit  of  you." 

"The  wretches!" 

"  When  I  recovered,  I  was  on  a  lounge  in 
the  sitliug-room  below  stairs,  and  I  opened 
my  eyes  ou  a  horror.  My  father  had  recent- 
ly purchased  two  most  savage  hounds  from 
a  man  named  Digby.  These  hounds,  it  was 
known,  would  even  eat  a  human,  it  they 
could  catch  the  scent  of  the  blood  about  that 
human.  My  hand  had  been  severely 
ecratched  by  the  troopers  on  the  stairs,  and 
(luring  tbe  time  I  lay  there,  had  oozed  con- 
siderably. 

"  I  opened  my  eyes  to  behold  one  of  these 
hounds  at  my  side,  glaring  at  me  with  his 
awful  orbs,  and  on  his  tongue  traces  of  some 
of  the  blood  which  be  had  already  licked 
from  my  hand.  I  realized  that,  having  tast- 
ed ot  the  blood  at  its  source,  iiis  next  more- 


must  have  temporarily  robbed  me  of  my 

I  tlien  gave  myself  up  for  lost,  indeed.  Bu 
Heaven  was  to  preserve  me  in  a  remarkabl 
way.  This  second  hound,  as  it  auticipatin; 
that  its  companion  was  about  to  enjoy  a 
feast  too  wholly  by  himself,  tlirew  itself  for- 
ward with  a  curdling  growl.  Instantly  it 
griped  the  throat  of  the  other  in  its  massive 
jaws,  smothering  thereby  the  answ.ering 
growl  that  would  have  greeted  him  in  the 
dispute  over  me. 

"It  was  my  chance.  Though  I  was  weak 
almost  to  helplessness,  I  managed  to  bound 
toward  and  out  at  the  low  window.  Then, 
in  the  startled  mood  that  had  seized  ine,  I 
ran  in  the  direction  of  the  wood.  Here, 
while  pausing  for  a  rest,  I  heara  the  bay  ot 
this  hound,  which  I  recognized  as  Durga, 
and  was  compelled  to  fly  when  I  was  de- 
tected that  he  was  assuredly  following  my 
trail.  Ever  since,  I  have  been  fleeing,  pur- 
sued by  the  animal  and  by  a  terror  a  thou- 
sand-fold more  horrible.  Ah,  I  am  not  want- 
ing in  ordinary  bravery,  Robert " 

"That  you  are  not,  darling,"  he  inserted, 
remembering  the  heroism  with  which  she 
had  defied  and  detained  the  troopers  at  her 
father's  inn. 

"But  to  die  by  the  fangs  of  a  dog— oh,  it 
makes  me  shudder." 

"  Well,  while  it  appears  now  to  have  beeu 
a  useless  fright,  no  one  can  blame  3'ou. 
But  the  danger  is  over.  And  what  shall  we 
do  with  the  dog?  Shall  I  put  a  bullet 
into " 

"  No,  no ;  I  would  not  treateven  this  brute 
so  cruelly.  ' 

"  It  would  be  a  mercy." 

"Let  bim  live.  I  will  take  care  ot  him. 
See :  he  looks  to  us  for  succor  in  his  helpless- 
ness." 

And  the  poor  brute,  as  he  permitted  him- 


guide  him  through  the  darkness  that  had 
come  upon  him. 

"As  you  will,  darling.  But  stop  here.  I 
have  a  companion." 

They  had  reached  the  tree  wherein  Mil- 
dred awaited  his  return. 

"Is  that  you,  Mr.  Ross?"  called  the  girl 
from  tbe  shadow  of  the  branch  above. 

"Who  is  it?"  Ethel  asked,  as  she  recog- 
nized a  woman's  voice. 

"  A  young  lady  I  have  guided  from  Fred- 
ericksburg. She  is  seeking  some  one  iu  tbe 
Union  army.  If  you  feel  strong  enough, 
Ethel,  I  shall  leave  the  remainder  of  that 
task  to  you.  You  can  take  her  to  your 
father's  house,  and  thence  into  Falmouth, 
where  the  Federal  army  is  now  fast  arriv- 
ing." 

"  Yes,  I  will  do  so.  And  when  am  I  to  see 
you  again,  Roliert  ?" 

"  As  soon  as  possible.  I  must  return  to  the 
town." 

Mildred  was  released  from  her  rather  un- 
pleasant position  on  the  tree  bough. 

After  making  the  two  girls  acquainted, 
and  uigiiig  them  to  hasten  into  Falmouth, 
Ross  paused  long  enough  to  imprint  a  parting 
kiss  on  Ethel's  lips,  then  turned  away  to- 
ward the  spot  where  he  had  tied  the  little 
boat  after  landing  with  Mildred. 


As  I 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

A       NOVEL      MEETING. 

form    of  her  lover  vanished  Ethel 


"  Come,  let  us  be  moving.  I  am  strong 
now,  though  it  was  a  fearful  ordeal  through 
which  1  passed." 

"  What  ordeal  ?"  Mildred  inquired,  as  she 
followed  the  other's  lead  over  ihe  top  of  the 
hill  toward  Falmouth. 

Ethel  related  her  recent  thrilling  e.xperi- 
ence. 

"  And  do  you  not  stand  in  fear  of  that 
great  animal  ?"  was  Mild7'.<l'nr|UPstiou,  when 
she  bad  beard,  and  rasiinL:  a  ^laine  of  doubt 
at  the  brute  wide  b  licr  c.inipaniDU  was  lead- 
ingguidingly  liy  <in..  of  Ins  .ais. 

"Oh,  no.  lb  isl.lind.  as  I  told  you,  and 
brute  tbniiL'li  h.'  i-,  h.-  harJ  my  Bvmpathy. 
Some  one  lia^  J  lin;  ,,;ii  lji,,vi-s.    I  pity  bim." 

Ross  had  nut    infni  nicd  her  of  thecauseof 

The  inu-keeiH-r'sdaiiuhter  was  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  lay  of  the  ground  for 
milts  nronnd  her  father's  house.  No  time 
was  lost  by  pursuing  an  unnecessary  course 
to  I'each  the  tavern. 

When  thpy  reached  a  part  of  the  timber 
fringe  tlirongh  the  openings  in  which  it 
would  have  been  possible  to  distinguish  the 
large  building  on  the  slope  below,  Ethel 
paused  short  with  a  little  cry. 

Instead  ol  lii-i-  licaie,  she  saw  a  great  heap 
of  black  and  still  smoking  ruins  where  the 
embfis  gleamed  and  occasionallv  sparkled 
upward  lu  the  now  fully  settled  night, 
"  What  house  was  that?"  queried  Mildred. 
"Min^once  mine,"  answered  Ethel, 
tremulously.  "I  was  born  there,  and 
now "  her  voice  ended  in  ii  halt  sigh. 

"  How  could  it  have  happened  ?" 

"  Who  can  tell.    Let  us  go  forward." 

Approaching  close  to  the  pile,  they  halted 
again  to  contemplate  it. 

Then  Ethel  suddenly  cried  : 

"  Look— oh— look  there!" 

Following  the  direction  ot  her  leveled  fin- 
ger, Mildred  saw  within  the  heap  of  ruins 
at  one  side,  illuminated  by  the  glowing  coals 
of  the  fire,  the  ghastly  remnants  of  a  human 
skeleton,  the  flesh  having  been  burned  al- 
most entirely  from  the  bones  that  were  re- 
vealed in  whiteness  where  they  had  not  yet 
charred. 

"Merciful  Heaven  lean  it  be  that  my  fa- 
ther has  perished  thus  horribly?" 

"  Do  you  think  that  your  father  would 
have  remained  within  the  house  to  meet  such 
a  death  ?  He  was  not  an  invalid  confined  to 
bis  bed,  was  he?" 

"No;  and  from  that  I  shall  gather  some 
hope.  Perliaps  you  areright  in  your  thought; 
be  may  be  at  this  moment  alive  and  well.  If 
so,  he  is  likely  in  Falmouth.  Come,  I  must 
Hnd  ray  father,  for  I  loved  him." 

One  more  the  couple  started  onward. 

A  sbortdistance  on  they  could  perceive  the 
camp-tires  of  the  army  arrived  and  arriving 
from  another  direction  than  the  road  they 
were  following. 

But  they  had  not  drawn  very  near  to  these 
beacon-lights  ere  there  came  a  halting  chal- 
lenge. 

"  Who  comes?" 

"Friends— women,"  replied  Mildred. 

"  Advance!" 

Going  forward, .  they  found  themselves 
confronted  by  a  Union  ofBcer. 

"  I  thought  it  was  one  of  the  pickets,"  Mil- 
dred said. 

"  And  so  it  is,  in  a  way.  Where  do  you 
come  from  ?" 

"  Fredericksburg." 

"  And  what  arc  you  doing  here?" 

"  I  am  seeking  an  ofiicer  in  your  army  by 
the  name  of  Denver,  who,  1  have  been  in- 
formed, is  here.  This  young  lady  is,  I  pre- 
sume, merely  seeking  to  enter  Faimouth  for 
shelter,  her  home  having  beeu  burned  by 
your  men,  no  doubt,  during  t  his  day." 

Tbe  offloer  to  whom  Mildred  thus  address- 
ed herself  was  Harry  Denver. 

A  portiou  of  bis  regiment,  including  his 
company,  had  been  detached  for  picket 
duly  in  the  rear;  be  was  at  that  moment 
making  a  round  of  the  post,  to  see  after 
their  proper  placing  and  vigilance. 

It  would  lie  difficult  to  conceive,  much  less 
explain,  the  immense  amazement  that  filled 
him,  as  he  thus  found  himself  talking  to  the 
very  young  lady,  as  he  suspected,  who  was 
romantically  connected  with  his  own  life. 

And  the  next  answer  given  to  his  immedi- 
ate question  confirmed  his  suspicion. 

"What  is  vour  name?" 

"Mildred  DeKay." 

Yes,  it  was  she. 

And  instantly  he  formed  a  rather  sly  reso- 
lution. 


12 


THE  WA"Fl  LIBRARY. 


"You  are  desirous  of  enteriup  the  lines?" 

"Yes." 

"Follow  me,  then,  for  you  maj-  have  to 
give  some  moi'H  satisfactory  explanation  re- 
garding your  i)ii-seiii-.-  lifre." 

With  whii  li  lir  u  h.  ,!i-i  and  led  the  way  in 
thedireotinu  .-I  lli.- !;l.-;iiniiif;  fires. 

Conducting;  tlKiii  to  liis  own  tent,  he  said  : 

"I  shall  ]isk  leaving'  you  here  until  I  con- 
fer with  the  colonel.  I  would  advise  that 
you  do  not    attempt  to  leave  until  my  re- 

"  Be  assured  that  we  will  obey ' 

At  that  juncture  another  officer  appeared 
at  the  ilap  of  the  tent.  Ashe  looked  iu  he 
called  out: 

"  Denver "  pausing  as  he  saw  the  two 

girls. 

Tlii'ii  he  withdrew  without  having  said 
what  lie  intended. 

And  instantly  Mildred  asked,  fixing  her 
lustiuus  eyes  on  the  young  Unionist : 

"  Is  your  name  Denver?" 

"  My  name  is  Henry." 

"Henry?" 

"  Henry,"  he  repeated.  "But  you  will  e.v- 
cuse  me.  I  am  wanted.  And  while  I  am 
gone  T  will  confer  with  the  colonel  concern- 
ing yi      '—  " 


'  Who  have  you  got  in  there?"  was  the  im- 
mediate interrogation  of  curiosity. 

"  A  thousand  guesses  and  you  wouldn't 
know." 

"  Oh,  I  give  it  up ;  I  am  no  hand  at  conun- 
drums." 

"  One  of  those  young  ladies  is  the  identical 
one  I  was  telling  you  about  to-day  while  our 
regiment  was  halted  on  the  slope " 

"  But,  yes.  She  has  introduced  herself  to 
me— Miss    Mildred    DeKay,    of    Frederieks- 

"  Which  one?" 

"  The  shorter  of  the  two." 

"  She  knows  then  that  she  has  stumbled  on 
the  man  she  is  to  wed  by  contract." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  I  told  her  my  name  was 
Hi  1  -sii.  iliMiks  it  is  thelast  name.  Keep 
ii  ri  not  ever  call  out  my  name 

\^l:    •  .iiud.    I  shall  have  her  re- 

lo         I  oMu-rtent  of  cource,  at  once. 

I  :i:,  ii(iy  to  introduce  myself." 

,    light  in,"  advised  theim- 

I  i   made  up  his  mind  at  the 

Mrsi  Ml    I  I    ascertaining  the  identity  of 

the  lieaiitiful  girl,  that  he  would  not  reveal 
himself  until  he  had  seen  a  little  more  of 
her. 

He  sought  his  colonel  to  consult  regarding 
the  disposition  of  the  two  females  thus 
brought  into  carap  on  the  eve  of  meeting  the 
enemy. 

As  he  expected,  that  officer,  who  was  a 
stern  disciplinarian,  immediately  exclaimed: 

"Pass  them  along,  sir,  pass  them  along; 
send  them  into  Falmouth  somewhere.  We 
don't  want  females  among  the  boys,  at  this 
time,  to  turn  their  heads." 

"Their  character  is  not  of  the  kind  to  do 
that,  colonel ;  they  are  undoubtedly  ladies." 

"  Well,  pass  them  along  all  the  same.  Let 
them  find  shelter  with  some  of  their  own  Sex 
in  the  town." 

Shortly  after  this  Denver  returned  to  the 
couple  in  his  tent  with  the  announcement: 

"You  cannot  remain  in  camp,  ladies;  you 
must  continue  on  to  Falmouth.  Here  is  a 
paper  which  will  preserve  you  from  molesta- 
tion between  here  and  there,  and  until  you 
can  reach  some  of  your  friends  which  you 
may  probalily  havi  there." 

I'roviding  them  with  a  passport,  he  led 
them  from  the  tent  and  toward  that  portion 
of  the  road  where  the  lights  of  his  regiment 
terminated. 

"Here  I  must  leave  you,"  he  said.  "I 
hope  you  may  safely  find  some  of  your 
friends ;  and  the  pass  I  have  given  you  may 
prove  valuable — for  you  must  recollect  that 
armies  are  armies  the  world  over,  and  even 
among  the  boys  in  blue  you  might  meet 
with  a  few  troublesome  rascals." 

"  We  thank  you,  sir.  But  will  you  tell  me 
before  you  part  from  us :  do  you  know  any 
one  in  the  army  by  the  name  of  Harry  Den- 
ver ?" 

"  I  must  say  that  I  do." 

"  Then,  if  you  should  ever  meet  him,  will 
you  be  kind  enough  to  say  to  him  that  Mil- 
dred DeKay  is  searching  for  him  ?  He  will 
understand  the  few  words." 

"  I  will  do  so." 

Then,  as  the  two  girls  hastened  away 
along  the  road,  he  stood  looUiug  after  them 
with  a  peculiar  smile  on  his  handsome  face. 

"By  Jove!"  he  muttered.    "If  she  is  as 


CHAPTKR  XV. 
I  !:(.~^n.. .    inr,  i;appahannock. 

On  liii- infill,  will.  Ii  found  Sumner'sprand 
division  in  p.,--,  -i.iii  of  Falmouth,  it  would 
have  I.. en  an  ,•a^v  matter  for  the  Union 
l,,i(is  lo  iio^s  ilie  Rappahannock  and  take 
til.,  l.iivn  ..I  l-'Tpdericksburg. 

'ill..  (  .ni!.-.ii  rate  General,  Lee,  had  not  yet 
niasM'.l  anv  considerable  force  to  disputethe 
passage  oft  lie  river;  the  frowning  heights 
at  the  rear  of  the  town  were  almost  bare  of 
the  enemy  after  the  brief  preliminary  en- 
gagement of  the  artillerists  on  the  afternoon 
of  that  day. 

But  even  with  greater  strategy  was  the 
Confederate  ihii'ftam  gathering  in  his  hith- 
erto dividfil  arniv  for  thestrusigle  that  was 
the  more  inevitable  because  of  Buruside's 
delay. 

Longstreet  even  then  was  forcing  marches 
to  reach  the  town. 

Wheu  day  dawned,  it  lirought  with  it  the 
arrival  of  the  grand  divisions  ot  Hooker  and 
FrankliiL  to  sti.-nL'llion  the  Federal  hues  on 
thenmili  of  ilir  i  ivoi-. 

At  that  Inn.,  it  ^ll..nld  not  have  been  a 
matter  of  strt-nfithoniiig,  as  history  shows, 
but  of  iminfdi..te  action. 

For  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day  fol- 
lowing this,  the  heichts  behind  Fredericks- 
burg began  to  bristle  formidahly. 

Longstreet  had  come,  his  meu  eager  fur 
the  fray;  and  the  vantage  lost  by  the  Fed- 
eral army  was  a  matter  of  derision  along  the 
gray  lines. 

-     .■      ■ ^    '• informa- 

3nscouced 

n  the  midst  of  his  foes,  as  it  were — from 
Battery  Bob,  who  effected  many  meetings 
with  Simmons,  the  scout,  and  through  him 
conveyed  the  intelligence  of  the  rapid 
strengthening  of  the  Confederate  position 
which  more  and  more  showed  that  now  the 
passage  of  the  Rappahannock,  or  the  taking 
of  Fredericksburg,  was  to  be  a  record  of 
blood. 

The  month  waned,  and  tlill  the  L'nionists 
were  there,  irresolute  ou  the  river  bank. 

And  when  at  last  General  Bumside resolved 
upon  a  bold  attack  in  front  at  every  hazard, 
lo!  the  whole  army  ot  Lee  was  before  him, 
with  armor  girded  strong  and  trenchant, 
with  the  heights  frowning  down  their  artil- 
lery, with  the  gleaming  bayonets  of  his  men 
ready  to  receive  the  charges  ot  the  foe. 

Longstreet  and  his  host  there;  Hill  at  Port 
Roval;  Jackson  between  and  ready  to  strike 
where  he  could  do  the  most  good. 

In  these  few  paragraphs  the  author  may 
have  taken  a  long  leap  from  the  tenth  of 
tiic  iirevious  month  to  that  date  which  sig- 
iiale.l  the  opening  ot  the  carnage. 

Bat  little  ot  moment  had  passed  with  our 
especial  characters,  and  the  many  maneu- 
vers oE  the  two  armies  are  less  essential  to 
our  narrative  than  the  events  which  follow- 
ed upon  and  subsequent  to  this  night  ot  De- 
cember 10. 

The  Stafford  Heights  were  crowned  by  the 
deadly  batteries  under  Hunt:  crowned,  and 
the  ominous  nozzles  directed  upon  the  plain, 
the  town  and  the  heights  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  stream,  to  hurl  their  missiles  of  de- 
struction at  a  moment's  notice. 

In  the  heavy  fog  of  the  night  the  pontoon 
trains  were  sent  down. 

The  engineers  began  their  work  ot  con- 
structing the  bridge,  believing  themselves 
comparatively  unobserved  through  the  fog. 

Among  the  troops  that  had  accompanied 
the  bridge  builders  to  support  them  at  their 
work  were  tiie  companies  of  Captains  Den- 
ver and  Harding. 

While  the  men  reposed  at  rest  on  their 
arms,  watching  the  busy  figures  out  at  the 
water's  margin,  suddenly  there  broke  the 
sharp  crack  of  a  rifle  from  the  shore  oppo- 
site. 

"  God  save  me !  I'm  shotT'  cried  one  of  the 
busy  workers. 

Not  so  stealthy  had  been  the  movement 
but  that  they  were  seen  by  the  alert  foe  at 
the  water  front  of  the  town. 

"Stick  to  it,  lads,"  urged  the  chief  of  ^u- 
gineers,  with  buta  quick  glance  at  the  fallen 
man. 

But  the  words  had  scarcely  left  his  lips 
wheu  again  sounded  the  appalling  crack- 
the  dismal  thuck  !  that  told  ot  another  mor 
tal  slain. 

After  these  two  shots  the  fire  from  the 
Confederate  riflemen  posted  protectingly  in 
the  stone  houses  at  that  side  of  the 
poured  upon  'hem  with  a  succession  that 
savored  of  volleys  at  times. 


The  lead  hummed  and  zipped  around 
them. 

Heroically  they  worked. 

The  bullets  came  faster,  and  the  disheart- 
ened engineers  listened  wearily  for  the  order 
that  would  relieve  them  from  a  duty  where 
it  was  only  a  question  of  time  before  the 
last  man  of  them  would  go  down. 

s  a    killing   shame,"  said  Denver  to 
g,  as  thevcame  together  while  their 
^re  replying  lo    the  lire  from  the  im- 
pregtKible  wall  ou  the  opposite  side. 

"  Killing'?— yes,"  dryly.  "I'm  thinking 
that  wo  shall'soou  be  wiped  out  to  a  man  if 
we  are  not  pretty  soon  taken  away  frotn  this 
place " 

Cutting  short  his  speech  he  dodged,  as  he 
fairly  felt  the  wind  ot  a  passing  slug  on  his 
cheek. 

"  Hark!"  exclaimed  Denver. 

There  sounded  at  that  instant  a  report  of 
heavy  ordnance  m  the  direction  of  the  Con- 
federate host. 

While  its  rumble  still  dwelt  in  the  humid 

air,  they   ( Id    discern   that    dawn  was  at 

hand. 

By  this  hour  the  shore  was  almost  strewn 
with  the  dead  who  had  fallen  before  the 
Mississippi  maikstuen,  whom  they  could  not 

Af  last  canic  the  older  to  cease  work. 

Only  for  awhile,  then  at  it  again;  at  it 
with  the  repetition  of  the  deadly  record  and 
unavailing  effort  ot  before. 

Forward  to  work ;  then  back  again  to 
sheller  went  the  heroic  engineers;  and  still 
came  those  leaden  messengers  from  thestone 
amlnislii-s  of  Fredericksburg  which  so  effect- 
ually disputed  the  crossing. 

There  followed  a  period  of  rest  under  shel- 
ter, during  which  tidings  of  the  unavailing 
effort  to  construct  the  bridge  was  conveyed 
to  the  Union  commander. 

After  a  lapse  of  hours  the  order  came  to 
retire  for  the  present. 

As  the  decimated  companies  of  Harding 
and  Denver  fell  back,  the  latter  found  op- 
portunity to  say  : 

"I  would  rather  take  chances  swimming 
the  stream  than  to  try  that  method  any 
more. 

"Audi— hello!  hear  that!" 

Abruptly  from  the  heights  above  them 
burst  the  sound  of  guns,  these  increasing 
their  volume  until  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole 
power  of  the  batteries  stationed  there  was 
being  discharged. 

And  it  soon  became  known  that  the  Are 
was  being  directed  in  a  bombardment  on 
the  town. 

Through  the  fog,  in  the  distance,  could  be 
seen  a  sluggish  column  of  smoke  that  told 
of  conflagration  where  the  shrieking  shells 
had  set  flame  to  thedwellings  more  probably 
of  innocent  people  than  in  the  midst  of  the 
foe  that  appeared  incapable  of  being  dis- 
lodged. 

Round  after  round,  gun  after  gun,  in  that 
almost  incessant  roar  at  the  high-reaching 
crests;  and  iron  hail  was  falling  fast  ( 


smoke  was— not  at  a  single  point,  but  here 
and  there,  giving  an  appalling  suggestion  to 
those  tons  of  iron  being  showered  and  ex- 
ploded in  the  hitherto  quiet  streets. 

While  the  guns  boomed  on,  again  was  the 
attempt  made  to  finish  the  bridge  that  had 
already  cost  so  many  lives. 

And  again  the  volleys  from  that  terrible 
ambush  at  the  water  front  of  the  town  that 
sent  along  with  every  shot  the  defiaut  yell 
of  a  Confederate  marksman,  still  safe  from 
shot  and  shell  because  the  guns  above  could 
not  be  depressed  to  reach  his  lurking 
place. 

It  was  after  the  terrible  cannonade  had 
lulled  somewhat  that  the  uselessness  of  suoh 
a  course  was  revealed  by  the  chief  of  artil- 
lery. 

Then  suddenly  there  burst  into  view  a  long 
line  composed  of  three  regiments;  burst 
forth  like  a  simultaneous  wave  of  bl  ue,  from 
which  ascended  a  cheer  so  long  and  loud 
that  it  penetrated  to  the  heights  in  the  rear 
of  the  town,  above  the  crackling  volleys 
which  replied  to  it  from  the  butternut 
sharpshooters. 

Down    the   bank,    onward     they    rushed. 


ng  pontoons  ou    the   shore 


slayers  of  the  night  past. 

Loud  cracked  the  muskets  of  the  brave 
boys  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  partly 
avense  their  fallen  comrades. 

And  soon  another  cheer  rent  the  air,  aa 
several    pontoons  loaded    with    the    daring 


THE  WAK*  LIBRARY. 


Onwarrl,  boatafter  boat,  imtil  the  stream 
wasaliviug  spectacle  of  men  and  batigmg 
muskets;  onward  steadily,  though  ninuy 
were  dropping  in  the  boats,  and  at  last  the 
bluff  afforded  a  protection  for  the  cheering 

Already,  as  if  dismayed,  the  opposing  fire 


t  heir  coverts  were  creeping  and 
M  ississipplans  as  they  heard  and 
(h.isp  rousing  clieers,tellingthem 
•cjuid  be  no  more  resistance  at 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A     SWORDSMAN     SPY. 

The  streets  of  Fredericksburg  presented  an 
exciting  spectacle  after  thatstroke  of  genius 
which  enabled  the  Federal  troops  to  cross 
the  river,  despite  the  galling  resistance  of 
the  ambushed  sharpshooters. 

While  the  bridge  builders  now  resumed 
their  workrapidly  toward  completion,  there 
was  a  scene  of  skirmishing  in  the  streets  and 
at  the  corners  of  the  captured  town. 

Tlie  Confederates,  not  yet  out  of  the  town, 
though  having  fled  and  still  fleeing  to  the 
upper  avenues,  were  loth  to  leave  without 
more  salutations  of  lead  to  those  who  had 
driven  them  from  their  posts  at  the  water 
front. 

Many  a  musket  banged  out  on  the  air  of 
the  afternoon,  and  the  yells  of  the  retreating 
Johnuies  answered  back  to  the  triumphant 
cheers  of  the  boys  in  blue. 

From  the  northern  bank  of  the  Kappa- 
hanuock  rose  in  a  mighty  volume  the  cheers 
of  a  magnificent  army  in  tribute  to  the  gal- 
lantry of  those  who  had  accomplished  the 
feet  of  heroism. 

At  a  point  where  a  house  had  been  fairly 
tumbled  down  in  fragments  by  the  recent 
cannonading,  another  scene  was  progressing 


with  a  saber  wielding  and  slashing  about 
him  iu  terrible  strokes. 

Before  him,  half  a  dozen  Confederate 
cavalrymen,  also  with  sabers,  and  seeming- 
ly without  other  weapons,  their  revolvers 
having  been  discharged  back  at  the  oncom- 
ing Federals  iu  the  retreat  from  the  river 
front. 

He  was  one  man  against  half  a  dozen,  and 
he  appeared  able  to  keep  them  busy  with 
his  circling,  sweeping,  thrusting  and  skill- 
fully handled  sword. 

The  man  was  Battery  Bob. 

His  assailants  were  men  of  the  Virginia 
cavalry,  and  foremost  among  them  was  the 
giant  lieutenant,  Rory  Bolt. 

"  Come  on  !"  cried  the  bold  Unionist,  as  he 
laid  about  him.    "I  shall  build  arampartof 


"  Down  with  him  !"  bellowed  Rory  Bolt. 
"Cut  him  up!  Flay  him!  Blast  it  all !  are 
we  to  be  defied  by  a  single  man " 

"  But  do  you  know  the  man  ?"  shouted 
one  of  his  men,  as  he  dodged  a  stroke  from 
the  .saber  that  was  near  lopping  off  his 
head. 

"  I  don"t  know  him,  and  I  don't  care  who 
he  may  be.  Down  with  him,  I  say !  Off 
with  his  head — at  him!" 

A  command  that  was  not  easily  obeyed, 
as  Bolt  found  to  be  the  case  himself;  for 
notwithstanding  his  own  enormous  strength 
and  the  combined  assistance  of  his  men,  he 
could  not  break  in  through  those  terrible 
circles  and  adroit  guards  which  seemed  like 
magic  to  meet  every  thrust  and  lunge  he 
made  at  the  remai-kable  mau  who  could 
thus  hold  them  all  in  check. 

"It  you  don't  know  who  it  is.  I  can  tell 
you,"  added  the  cavalryman,  making  an- 
other dodge,  as  the  saber  this  time  clashed 
down  upon  his  weapon  and  fairly  sent  it 
quivering  from  his  grasp.  "  The  man  is  Bat- 
tery Bob,  of  Autietam !" 

And  the  ofliers  took  up  the  name  iu  a  cry  ; 

"  Battery  Boh  !  Battery  Bob  !" 

"Ho!"  hluilpd  Lieuti-uantBolt.  "  If  that 
is  Battery  Bob,  tlit-n  1  am  the  happiest  man 
in  IliHaiitjy,  for  Ishall    smile    off    his  head 


Thcf^llll-! 

sameM'r  MM 
trom  ai^iini 
his  right  av 
guard  to  i  e._ 
For  fully  I 


lembered  head  went 
his  feet— and  in  the 
saved  his  own  head 
he  6he<"r  strength  of 
raised  his  saber  to  a 
ide  of  Battery  Bob. 
1  had  this  strange  and 


!Of  I 


tood  the  intrep- 
id spy  :  and  anon  hisglauce  was  diverted  for 
an  instant  down  the  street,  where  sounded 
the  bang  of  muskets,  and  where  he  could  see 
occasionally  the  uniforms  of  soldiers  in  blue 
advancing  into  town. 

"If  I  can  hold  out  a  little  longer,"  was  his 
thought,  "  I  will  soon  have  help  here,  aud 
the  chances  are  that  I  may  be  able  to  make 
prisoner  this  bold  giant  whom  I  recognize  as 
the  one  leading  the  troopers  in  the  hunt  and 
attack  at  the  inn  of  old  Cobbs.  They  are  an 
awkward  set;  and  I  even  hesitate  to  kill 
them,  as  I  easily  could  do  because  of  mv 
superioi- skill  with  this  fortunate  saber.  Ah! 
the  iM.ys  are  coming!" 

There  was  a  shout  on  thestreet  below,  then 
another  and  another,  which  indicated  that 
the  advancing  troops  were  on  the  street  be- 
yond the  nearest  corner  and  would  soon 
burst  upon  thissanguinai'y  by-scene,  driving 
before  them,  no  doubt,  more  of  the  fleeing 
Confederates. 

Aud  the  trenchant  saber  circled  on,  the 
steel  clashed,  and  presently  Battery  Bob 
found  it  neces  ary  to  sacrifice  another  human 
life,  for  one  of  the  cavalrymen  was  near 
breaking  through  his  ever  watchful  guard. 

Swoop!  thush!  struck  the  weapon  that 
seemed  invincible,  and  another  head  rolled 
off  from  its  trunk,  spinning  out  into  the 
already  bloody  street. 

"  A  nillion  curses  on  you  for  the  most 
blasted  Yank  of  all!"  roared  Bolt,  at  sightof 
this  second  deed  of  remarkable  prowess 
which  showed  that  the  edge  of  the  saber  in 
the  hand  of  the  Unionist  was  as  sharp  as  a 
razor. 

"  Curses  will  not  drive  me  from  this  pile, 
my    bold   Johnny,"'    answered    the   defiant 


temples  with  the  exertion  of  his  wonderful 
battle. 

"  But  the  saber  of  Rory  Bolt  will  do  that 
thing !"  the  lieutenant  began  to  bellow. 

When  suddenly  there  rattled  a  volley  of 
bullets  around  his  ears,  which  sentseveral  of 
his  followers  pitching  headlong  to  the  pave. 

A  company  of  Federals,  in  steady  rank, 
had  turned  the  corner,  and  immediately  at 
sight  of  the  foe  engaged  there  had  discharged 
their  muskets  at  them. 

It  was  really  a  miracle  that  Battery  Bob 
escaped  the  leaden  hail  of  the  volley. 

At  his  feet  struck  many  of  the  s'lugs,  and 
around  his  ears  hummed  the  messengers  of 
death. 

"  Ho!"  broke  the  bull-like  voice  of  Bolt, 
"they  are  upon  us!  " 

Imitating  the  action  of  bis  frightened  men 
he  made  a  lumbering  leap  backward  beyond 
the  circling  saber  of  the  Unionist,  and  start- 
ed on    a  full    run    toward  the   rear   of  ihe 

Resting  on  his  saber  which  had  served  him 
so  faithfully,  Ross  waited  for  the  boys  in 
blue  to  come  up. 

He  unbuttoned  the  front  of  his  coat,  re- 
vealing that  he  wore  a  Union  blouse  beneath 
and  showing,  too,  a  peculiar  badge  pinned 
thereon,  which  was  to  check  the  inquiry  of 
the  captain  of  the  company,  who  com- 
menced to  say  : 

"  Well,  sir,  who  are  you  that  I  see  you 
fighting  in  citizen's  garb  with  those  infernal 


yet  hern 


3f  Freder- 


"  I  have  heard  of  you,  Battery  Bob.  We 
may  meet  again,  I  hope.  But  I  have  no  time 
now  to  talk.  Take  care  of  yourself,  and  be 
assured  the  boys  of  thearmy  will  be  glad  to 
know  that  you  are  still  alive  imd " 

"Able  to    handle    a    saber."     Ross   inter- 


'Far 


Pell, 


"  And  good  luck  to  you,  captain." 
The  company  inarched  away  rapidly 
along  the  street  iu  the  direction  of  the  fir- 
Ross  tlms  left  free  after  one  of  the  closest 
perils  of  his  life,  started  down  the  street  to- 
ward theriver,  still  carrying  his  trusty  saber 
in  hand  for  any  possible  emergency. 

He  still  wore  tlie  clerical  garb  we  have  no- 
ticed on  his  entrance  into  the  DeKay  man- 


The 
tlietr 
tlie  111 
neck  1 


whicli  had  betrayed  him  to 
Bolt  lis  a  Fedeial.  had  been 
elo^sotasi1.gl..  iMittonatthe 


out  his  knowl.dg,.;  ;,„(1  as  tij.'  Ueeiijg  John- 
nies ae.'identally  came  upon  him  at  the  pile 
of  ruius  they  saw  gleaming  over  the  top  of 
the  collar  a  brass  button  that  they  instantly 
recognized  as  a  Yankee  device. 

Howard's  divLsiou  was  crossing  the  Rappa- 
hannock into  Fredericksburg  as  Battery  Bob 


reached  the  i 


■  front. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


bad] 


And  as  he  spoke.  Bolt  wa 


was   here  that   his  glance   fell  on  the 


"  My  name  is  Robert  Ross,  captain.  I  am 
probably  better  known  as  Battery  Bob." 

"Ah!" 

Instantly  the  young  officer  stepped  for- 
ward after  halting  his  company,  and  extend- 
ed his  hand. 

This  officer  was  Captain  Denver. 

The  two  shook  hands  warmly. 

"  You  have  had  a  warm  time  here,  I  judge. 
Battery  Bob,"  with  a  glance  at  the  two 
human  heads  that  lay  in  all  their  ghastliness 
on  the  pave. 

"RatliHr  warm,  captain  But  I  guess  I 
c',>uld  iMivf  iielrl  iny.uMi,  even  if  you  had  not 

■'n.irk  •■■  liossiiiLTfuiited. 


auskets  banging,   telling  of  i 


S   RETtniN   nOHE. 

Night  had  not  yet  settled  down  upon  the 
river,  when  a  small  boat  might  have  been 
observed  slowly  crossing  toward  the  town 
shore. 

Pulling  somewhat  awkwardly  at  the  oars 
was  a  negro,  well  advanced  iii  years,  and 
seated  in  the  stern  were  two  females. 

The  latter  were  Mildred  DeKay  and  Ethel 
Cobbs,  and  the  former  the  old  negro.  Snow, 
who  was  saying,  as  they  reached  midstream  : 

"I  kinder  knowed  'at  I'd  flue  you  dar, 
Missy  Mild'ed— I  kinder  knowed  it,  some- 
how. ,\ii'  Ise  been  pow'ful  skeert  'bout  you 
sence  you  let'  de  manshun^  'ithout  a-sayiu' 

"  '       "  outyou'sgoin'.    An'  Ise  afeard 

ees  might  a  be  a-do 


;deY; 


to    de  or    home   o'    Massa 


'Kay. 


"Yes,  I  am  coming  back.  Snow.  But,  tell 
me,  have  you  seen  anything  more  of  Lieu- 
tenant Artwell,  the  man  who  was  thrown 
through  the  window  onto  the  veranda?  Was 
he  killed?    I  hope  not." 

"  No,  indeedy,  Missy  Mildi'ed.  De  skull  ob 
dat  man  am  astonishin', 'deed  it  am.  W'en' 
de  sogers  kem  inter  de  pariah,  he  was  jest 
a-kemin'  to,  an'  he  said  some  powerful  hot 
words.  Missy  Mild'ed,  'deed  he  did." 

"  And  everything  is  safe,  untouched,  you 
say.  Snow  ?" 

"  E— yes.  Missy  Mild'ed.  De  leftenaut  was 
awful  put  out 'bout  you's  dis'pearauce;  but 
dey  don' left  de  preiu'sis  widout  any  'flic- 
tion  o'  damage.  B-b-but  he's  done  swore  'at 
he's  a-going  lo'  to  fine  you,  he  did." 

"  Some  enemy  of  yours?"  remarked  Ethel, 
inquiringly. 

'•  Not  exactly  an  enemy.  But  a  man  who 
has  annoyed  me  for  some  time  with  offers  of 
marriage,  and  whom  I  have  taken  every  op- 
portunity to  inform  that  his  hopes  are  use- 
less. Let  rue  fell  you  of  a  little  incident  that 
happened  a  short  time  ago." 

She  proceeded  to  relate  the  occurrence  at 
the  mansion  in  which  Ross  figured  as  her 
champion. 

At  it's  conclusion  Ethel's 
ling. 

"  That  is  Robert— every  inch  of  him,"  she 
exclaimed. 

"You  call  him  Robert?" 

"And  why  should  I  not? 
frothed." 

"Ah'" 

Mildred  looked  keenly  at  the  girl 

Theiesult  of  hei  seaichingglance  was  that 
she  com  ludi  d  the  taste  of  Battery  Bob  to  be 
of  fiueordfr 

For  she  could  not  help  rtcujtuzm  ^  m  this 
childof  thehilN  a  «oiniTi  tl  tiriieauty 
and  puiity,  with  m  \[  i  s  n  f  h  in(  fer 
m    the  lovely    f  i         ii    t     \  ii      t      ar- 

rest attention  ii  1    I     I  1 


r  h  Mildied  ha  1  deserted  on  the  day  pre- 


!  eyes  were  spark- 


ay  b<^ 


14 


THE  WAR-  LIBRARY. 


In  tbe  time  that  had  elasped  since  the 
night  when  Captain  Denver  had  seen  the  two 
on  their  way  into  Falmouth,  Mildred  had 
fnlly  acquainted  Ethel  with  the  romantic 
little  history  of  her  search  for  a  man  whom 
•he  was  destiued  lo  marry  if  she  would,  obey 
the  dyiufj  reiiuest  of  her  father. 

While  iu  Falmouth,  she  had  watched  with 
no  atlemiit  to»couceal  her  eagerness,  for  t 
appearance  of  the  young  captain  who  h„« 
introduced  himself  as  "  Henry,"  remembei-- 
ing  his  promise  to  communicate  (he  fact  of 
her  search  to  Captain  Denver,  and  teeUng 
assured  that  Denver  would  seek  her  out 
when  he  knew  that  she  was  desirous  of  the 
meeting. 

But  Denver  bad  had  no  opportunity,  even 
if  he  had  wished  for  it,  lo  see  more  of  the 
young  girl  which  fate  had  seemed  to  have 
•elected  for  him  as  a  wite. 

As  they  entered  the  mansion,  which  seem- 
ed to  have  remained  in  every  particular 
just  as  it  had  been  left  by  her  in  her  recent 
hurried  flight,  she  remarked  to  Ethel: 

"  Perha[)»,  now  that  the  Union  army  is  In 
possession  of  Fredericksburg,  the  man  I  wish 
to  see  will  seek  for  me  at  the  place  he  must 
know  to  be  my  home." 

"  I  trust  he  may,"  said  Ethel,  with  a  little 
twinkle  in  her  eyes,"  for  you  appear  to  be 
thinking  of  him  voiy  absorbedly." 

"Isit  not  natural?  You  see,  I  feel  as  it 
there  was  a  bondage  upon  me,  and  I  am  de- 
sirous of  having  it  settled  either  one  way  or 
the  other.  1  will  confess  to  you,  my  new 
and  dearly  loved  friend"— for  the  two  had 
grown  almost  sisterly  in  the  time  of  their 
•hort  intimacy — "if  the  man  1  expect  to 
meet,  and  whom  I  may  marry  if  we  are  both 
•uited,  is  anything  like  the  young  officer 
whom  we  met  on  that  night  last  month,  I 
think  I  shall  not  And  much  difBculty  in 
learning  to  love  him.  Do  you  not  think  he 
was  noble  looking?" 

"  Very.  More — though  I  have  only  sus- 
pioioned  it  so  slightly  as  not  to  make  it  war- 
rantable on  my  part  to  suggest  it— I  half  be- 
lieve that  the  captain  you  mention  is  the 
very  man  now  nnder  discussion  as  possibly 
your  future  husband " 

"No!  You  are  not  iu  earnest !"  e.xclaim- 
ingly  interrupted  the  beauty,  turning  quick- 
ly ou  her  compauion. 

"But  I  do." 

"  What  are  your  grounds  ?" 

"Do  you  not  remember  that  he  told  you 
his  name  was  Henry  ?" 

"Yes,  his  last  name,  of  course;  and  it 
would  have  been  very  indelicate  on  my  part 
to  ask  him  for  his  first  name." 

"I  think  differently." 

"That  such  a  question  would  not  have 
been  delicate?"  in  surprise. 

"  Oh,  no,  I  do  not  mean  that.  I  mean  that 
I  have   a   different  opinion    regarding  the 

"How?    I  cant  understand." 

"  You  t*aid  that  the  name  of  the  man  you 
had  never  seen,  and  yet  might  possibly  mar- 
ry, was  Hairy  Denver." 

"That  young  captain  said  his  name  was 
Henry.  Harry  is  sometimes  used  for  the 
name  of  Henry;  and  his  last  name  maybe 
Denver.    There  you  have  Harry  Denver." 

"  It  never  struck  me!"  exclaimed  Mildred, 
impressed  with  this  random  reasoning  of 
her  new  friend. 

And  she  added: 

"  Then,  it  he  and  I  ever  meet  again,  I  will 
have  the  point  settled,  be  assured,"  aud  it 
was  plain  that  she  was  half  inclined  to  ac- 
cept the  theory. 

They  bad  reached  Mildred's  private  rooms 
by  this  lime,  and  were  about  to  arrange 
their  toilet,  when  there  was  a  sound  of  hur- 
ried footsteps  in  the  hallway  without. 

Both  turned  with  inquiring   looks  toward 

Snow  burst  in  without  the  ceremony  of  the 
knock  whicii  was  always  his  custom,  and 
immediately  cried : 

"Oh,  Missy  Mild'ed!" 

"Whatisil.Suow?" 

"  Dar's  a  man  in  de  cellar !" 

"In  the  cellar?  ' 

"E-yes,  indeed.  I  was  a-goiu'  fo'  to  fetch 
somethin'  fo'  ymu  to  drink  from  ol'  massa's 
wine,  w'en,  dar— dar  was  a  man  wot  riz 
right  up  from  de  ca.sks  an'  sighted  outer  me 
like  he  was  a-goin' fo' to  eat  me  right  up,  I 
swears  it  fo'  de  huiib  !" 


'What  kind 
'Dee. I,  Miss 


■  Let  1 


■  ■(I,  I   didn't  stopfu'  to 
.1,  ludecellahfo'surc." 
is,"  suggested  Ethel. 
••  \  ery  wen,     Mildred  assented. 
They  descended  the  stairs  to    the  narrow 
flight  ieauiiig  lo  toe  cellar. 
The  cellars  of  the   DeKav   mansion  were 

81 


large  and  filled  with  casks  that  indicated  a 
love  of  comfort  on  the  part  of  the  recently 
deceased  owner. 

Furnished  with  a  light  by  Snow,  who  kept 
in  the  rear,  Ethel  claimed  the  privilege  of 
leaiiing  the  way. 

Witli  her  ever  present  revolverflrmly  held 
for  an  immediate  shot,  she  proceeded  upon 
an  exploration. 

And  had  scarcely  gone  a  dozen  steps 
along  the.  tlacged  flooring,  when  a  gigantic 
form  arose  f'om  benind  a  cask  in  her  liont  — 
a  form  with  a  shaggily  bearded  laee  and 
eyes  that  were  like  the  orbs  of  some  hideous 
owl  there  iu  the  semi-gloom. 

The  face  and  form  of  Lieutenant  Rory 
Bolt. 

It  chanced  that  the  fray  between  him,  his 
men  and  Battery  Bob,  was  in  a  locality  near 
to  the  DeKay  mansion.  As  he  tle.l  wiih  the 
others,  he  bethought  liim  of  thiM-.\|ie(li.iit  i.f 


iteri 


the 


protalily  save  his  life  from  the  Yankee  bul- 
lets which  were  following  thickly  alter  hiiu. 

Finding  the  garden  gate  open,  he  entered. 
And  finding  that  the  mansion  was  actually 
deserted,  he  proceeded  to  makebimself  com- 
fortable after  a  manner. 

Which  cousisted  of  an  immediate  visit  to 
the  cellar,  where,  he  knew,  there  was  apleu- 
tif  ul  supply  of  wine. 

Seating  himself  among  the  casks,  he  turned 
the  spigot  of  one  near  him  and  placed  his 
capacious  month  to  it,  taking  a  longdraught 
that  might  have  resulted  in  the  death  of  an 
ordinary  man. 

"This  is  what  I  call  enjoyment,"  he  mut- 
tered, smacking  bis  lips.  "  And,  forsooth, 
here  I  mean  to  remain  until  the  accursed 
Y'anks  are  driven  out  of  Fredericksburg,  or 
until  these  casks  are  drained  out.  Here  goes- 
destruction  to  the  Yanks!"  and  again  he 
drank  heavily  from  the  spigot. 

Such  potations  inevitably  resulted  in  his 
intoxication.  It  was  not  long  before  he 
sunk  over  into  a  drunken  sleep  thereupon 
the  hard  stone  floor. 

From  this  sleep  he  had  just  aroused  as 
Snow  descended  to  procure  some  refresh- 
ments for  his  young  mistress. 


CHAPTER   XVIIL 

A  CLOSE  CALL  FOR  BOLT. 

Having  frightened  off  the  negro.  Bolt 
chuckled  gutturally  and  turned  for  the  sixth 
time  to  the  convenient  spigot. 

"So  they  have  come  home  again— the 
.young  girl  who  is  the  heir  of  Arnold  De- 
Kay,"  bubbled  from  his  lips.  "  Well,  I  am  a 
flxlure  here  for  the  present,  I  Imagine.  I  do 
not  think  they  will  disturb  me  in  this,  the 
oest  treat  of  wine  I  have  ever  had  in  my 
life." 

And  he  took  a  seventh  drink  from  the 
spigot. 

But  Rory  Bolt's  idea  that  he  might  remain 
there  unmolested  was  exploded  a  few  mo- 
ments laier,  when  he  saw  that  some  one  was 
descending  the  narrow  way  to  the  cellar. 

Cautiously  overthetop  of  a  cask  he  peered 
upon  the  comers  w'th  a  light. 

In  an  uiiderbreath  he  muttered : 

"Thunder  and  Satan,  there  is  the  daughter 
of  the  inn-keeper,  Ethel  Cobbs.  How  came 
she  to  be  here  ?  And  she  is  carrying  a  pistol 
—a  revolver.  She  is  no  child  with  the  re- 
volver. I  have  seen  her  shoot  a  man  as  well 
as  I  could  have  done  myself.  But  I  shall 
not  be  fiiL'hlened  from  this  comfortable 
place  by  a  legiiiieiit  of  Ethel  Cobbs.  Hal  she 

not  frighten  them— the  lun-keeper's  daugh- 
ter and  the  girl  I  see  is  the  owner  of  this  man- 
sion—iu  the  same  way  I  did  the  negro.  I 
will  tryl" 

Having  thus  resolved,  he  suddenly  arose 
before  the  explorers  of  the  cellar  as  shown, 
at  the  same  time  raising  one  great  hand 
aloft  and  uttering  a  dismal  sound  that  was 
very  much  like  a  groan. 

If  he  hi.d  hoped  to  intimidate  Ethel  Cobbs 
either  by  his  noise,  his  appearance  of  gigan- 
tic stature,  or  his  glaring  eyes,  he  was  thril- 
liiigly  disappointed. 

Promptly  the  girl  raised  her  revolver  to 
cover  his  broad  breast,  and  she  cried  : 

"Stand!" 

In  that  instant  it  flashed  upon  Rory  Bolt 
that  he  had  never  seen  a  more  beautiful  pict- 
ure of  woiiiarilincid   than  Ethel  presented  to 

l!ii!     '  I      !:id  no  lime  to  reckon. 

'Ill  '  i:  I  .  was  leveled  upon  him, 
aii.llM  >i..  •:  I  1.-  dangerous  glance  in  lur 
ihu  Iv  ..I  i,.T  ihai  ..hu  uould  Are  upon  him  the 

"  Hold  there,  b&st  it!"  he  ejaculated,  ex- 
citedly. "  You  would  not  kiU  me,  would 
you?" 


"Stand,  sir,  and  give  an  account  of  your 
presence  here." 

"Auaccident,  I  swear,"  he  hastened  to  say, 
in  his  bowel-accented  voice.  "  I  stumbled 
in  here  before  I  knew  where  I  was.  I  have 
been  drunk.  Look  at  my  eyes,  and  you  must 
see  that  I  have  been  drunk.  ],i>wer  tbat 
pistol,  Ethel  Cobbs,  it  might  gi.  efl  before 
you  know  it." 

"  Ah,  I  recognize  von  now,"  said  the  girl, 
while  the  tlnsli  ill  hei  eyes iuteiisibed.  "You 
are  ciiiH  of  those  ^^  In.  "were  in  pursuit  of  a 
loan  kiu.H  li  ;is  natt.ry  Bob,  at  my  father's 
house  Inst  luoiiUi.  Yi  s.  1  know  you.  So  you 
are  in  a  coriK-r  uhh  ,  .h  ?  1'..  vmi  know,  I 
have  half  a  mini!  i..  l-i.-  -,  o.i  Cvii  ii  a  bullet 
for  the  i>art  you  iiLi\  i-d  m  ili:ii  ;,fliiir." 

"Half  a   niiii<l,s;iy    v...  :•       W.-li.   let    the 


lalf  1 


lUd 


thing. 


Klhel  Cobbs.     I    am    harmless  a 
swt-ar  to  you.    Lower  the  revolver." 

Kill  el  turned  slightly  toward  Mildred  and 
asUed : 

"  Is  there  any  other  outlet  to  this  place  be- 
side the  way  in  our  rear?" 

"None." 

"Then,"  said  the  girl,  while  her  wary  eyes 
were  fastened  upon  Bolt,  whom  she  ad- 
dressed again,  "step  aside,  while  I  make 
this  wretch  clear  himself  on}.  I  have  very 
little  feeling  for  such  as  you  are,  sir,  and  if 
you  excite  me  in  the  least,  I  may  even  pull 
on  this  trigger  before  I  know  it " 

"Soul  of  Satan!  don't  do  that!"  blurted 
brawny  fellow,  p 
ger  it  anything  shouli 
jnessure  of  her  finger  on  the  trigger  the  least 
bit  harder. 

Just  at  that  moment  something  trans- 
pired which  brought  a  rather  thrilling 
change  upon  the  scene. 

The  old  negro.  Snow,  in  his  curiosity  to 
see  the  man  who  was  being  cowed  by  the 
brave  jrirl,  was  craning  his  neck  forward 
from  his  position  ou  the  joisted  stairs. 

Losing  his  balance  before  he  was  aware  of 
it,  he  slipped,  tripped,  and  came  tumbling 
down  with  a  half  yell  of  dismay. 

In  his  fall  he  struck  against  Ethel. 

Ethel  was  jarred  against  Mildred. 

The  lamp  was  knocked  from  Mildred'^ 
hand  ;  simultaneously  the  revolverexplodcd, 
and  a  shout  that  was  a  curse  broke  from  th« 
coarse  lips  of  Lieutenant  Bolt, 

"Blast  it!  lam  wounded!" 

And  but  for  the  jar  tbat  diverted  her  aim, 
which  she  kept  heretofore  steadily  upon  the 
ruffian,  tbe  bullet  might  have  done  more 
than  merely  wound  the  Confederate. 

A  lucky  divertisement  for  Bolt. 


1  darkness    which    ensued 


upon 


accident,  he  saw  an  advantage  for  himself. 

Quickly  changing  his  position,  be  mutter- 
ed, in  au  underbreatb : 

"Now,  then,  if  I  can  but  get  out  of  here 
before  tbat  spit-tire  of  a  girl  takes  a  notion 
to  bore  me  with  a  bullet,  as  she  said  she  had 
half  a  mind  to  do,  I  will  be  fortunate.  I 
think  I  can  see  the  glimmer  of  a  light  back 
there." 

With  a  stealth  and  noiselessness  that  was 
remarkable  considering  the  weight  of  his 
great  cavalry  boots,  be  began  making  liis 
way  toward  a  faint  glimmer  of  light  which 
he  could  see  from  his  position,  though  the 
position  of  the  girls  was  such  that  it  was  ob- 
scured from  their  vision  by  an  angle  in  the 
foundation  of  tbe  building. 

And  perhaps  the  voice  of  Snow,  that  was 
raised  in  a  bewailing  tenor  immediately  and 
continuously  following  the  mishap  to  him- 
self, aided  tbe  movements  of  the  giant. 

He  succeeded  in  passing  by  the  girls  and 
drawing  near  to  the  faint  glimmer,  which 
was  caused  by  the  light  which  Snow  had 
made  in  the  parlor  when  Mildred  and  Ethel 
first  arrived. 

Faint,  but  sufficient  to  bring  him  to  the 
joisted  stairs;  and  then  with  sudden  and 
great  leaps,  be  escaped  from  the  cellar,  run- 
ning across  the  garden. 

At  the  same  time,  he  heard  the  sound  of 
shots  on  the  street  without,  which  told  that 
even  with  the  fall  of  the  night's  shadows, 
there  was  still  a  desultory  strife  progressing. 

He  was  not  to  escajie  so  easily. 

Hardly  had  he  reached  the  gate  which  had 
a-fforiled  liim  an  ingress  earlier,  when  he  was 
flie.ked  and    somewhat  startled  by  a  surly 

A  deei)  and  ominous  growl,  followed  by  a 
snap  of  powerful  jaws,  and  Bolt  felt  his  flesh 
being  torn  by  sharp  teeth. 

A  cry  that  was  a  roar  burst  from  him. 

"Thunder  and  Satan!  it  is  the  blood- 
bound  that  old  Cobbs  started  to  run  down 
the  Yankee  spy !" 

Durga  it  was. 

The  brute's  presence  tnere  was  purely  and 
singularly  aooidental,  Ethel  haviug  left  him 


3  9 

THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


15 


in    Falmouth  when   they   decided  to    enter 
Fredericksburg  after  its  capture  by  the  Fed- 

The  blind  lieaat  had  escaped  from  those 
with  whom  she  had  left  it  iu  chartie,  and  in 
its  roaraings  had  cimie  into  the  maiden  of 
the  DeKay  mansion,  after  having  fallen  into 
the  river  and  swam  across,  aimlessly. 

Had  Durga  been  the  animal  that  it  was 
before  losing  its  sight,  Rory  Bolt  could  not 
have  done  what  he  then  did— break  loose  at 
a  single  tenilie  w  rench  from  the  faugs  fast- 
ened in  til"  tl.'sli  :il)(ivehis  boot. 

Hnrliim  liini»lt  lioe  from  the  dog,  he  ran 

As  he  ai.p'iiiiil  n|>"n  tlie  dark  street,  bul- 
lets w("',- 11>  iii>r  ;it  iiilervals  around,  and  one 
oftheljilli^  |,. -lilts  of  lead  pierced  his  hat, 
knocking  it  troiii  his  shaggv  liead. 

"Blast  it:  It  shall  be  killed  yet,  I  am 
afraid,"  he  spluttered,  as  he  stretched  his 
long  legs  in  Higlit." 

And  not  until  he  was  well  across  the  canal 
did  he  relax  his  running  gait,  or  venture 
time  for  aglanoe  behind  to  see  if  he  was  jjur- 
8ued. 

A  busy  night  was  that  with  the  Union 
army. 

The  pontoons  were  now  nearly  all  com- 
pleted witliiiutany  further  resistance. 

As  the  night  advanced,  other  corps  were 
crossing  the  Rappahannock  to  the  southern 
side,  at  the  city;  and,  below,  the  men  of 
Franklin  were  fast  massing  for  the  struggle 
under  cover  of  another  fog  that  settled 
down  over  land  and  water  like  a  dull  gray 
pall. 

When  day  came  again,  it  found  the  Feder- 
als ready  for  a  battle,  all,  with  the  exception 
of  Hooker's  grand  division,  having  formed 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  stream,  and  show- 
ing a  menacius  front  to  the  quiet  but  grimly 
wailing  foe. 

The  scouts  were  now  busy;  and  spryest 
among  them  was  Simmons,  who  seemed 
gifted  with  an  almost  supernatural  ability 
for  bringing  information  regarding  the  Con- 
federate position  and  movements  on  the  dis- 
tant stretch  of  heights. 

Simmons  now  wore  a  garb  of  Union  blue. 

With  the  exception  of  his  broad  brimmed 
hat,  and  the  fart  that  he  carried  a  rifle  of 
monstrous  and  heavy  barrel,  he  was  like  the 
rest  of  that  vast  array  of  boys  in  blue— a 
seeming  private  from  the  ranks. 

With  the  men  of  Franklin,  where  Sim- 
mons was  busiest  at  his  daring  work,  there 
was  fast  coming  a  silent  feeling  of  the  car- 
nage that  was  soon  to  open ;  the  eyes  be- 
neath the  Union  oapa  roamed  afar  and 
ahead  as  if  to  penetrate  the  fastnesses  of  the 
gray  clad  enemy,  and  every  hour  that 
elapsed  was  an  increase  of  the  suspense,  un- 
til many  were  heard  to  murmur : 

"  1  wish  the  thing  would  come." 

"  And  I.  I'd  rather  be  in  the  battle  than 
wait  here  thinking  about  it." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

now    THE    BOTS  WENT    "IN." 

Dull  With  haze  was  the  December  day  that 
came  til  1  e.i'ive  tlie  reeord  of  the  opening 
struggle  at  Fiederickshurg. 

Througli  the  foggy  air  the  warriorsin  blue 
were  marching  and  countermarching  for  po- 
sition to  open  the  attack  which  had  been 
ordered  by  General  Biirnside. 

Beyond  the  clouded  sonee  of  air  the  cita- 
dels built  by  the  Confederate  army  on  those 
piney  heights  were  invisible.  The  yawning 
mouths  that  were  ready  to  receive  and  de- 
stroy them  were  cloaked  from  view,  though 
there  were  grim  waniors  there  with  Augers 
on  musket  locks  and  gripes  on  deadly  lan- 
yards, the  tightening  of  which  was  soon  to 
rouse  and  rend  the  atmosphere  with  roars 
of  thunder. 

"Forward,  guide  center— inarch  !" 

Swiftly  here  and  there  the  marching  lines. 

At  every  step,  at  every  coramiind  risingon 
that  early  morning,  the  teeth  of  men  were 
olinching  together  tighter  as  they  telt  them- 
selves coming  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  mo- 
ment of  battle. 

Brave  were  they,  the  blue  and  the  gray ; 
but  there  is  someiliing  in  the  suspensive  mo- 
ments proceeding  the  outburst  of  a  carnage 
such  as  that  in  store,  which  may  cause  even 
the  bravest  to  experience  a  strange  thri.l  not 
without  its  dread. 

"  Forward,  guide  center— march  I" 

Slowly  over  the  plain  that  stretched  be- 
low Fredericksburg  wheeled,  grimly,  tbe 
candidate  martyrs. 

Slowly    forward    through    the    uncert 
light  the  division  of  gallant  Meade,  as  the 
fog  began  to  lift,  and  his  gleaming  bayonets 
shone  in  long  lines  like  waves  of  steel  that 


81 


swayed  beneath  some  stealthily  wafting 
breeze.  ,      ... 

Then  at  last  burst  the  first  sound  of  the 
bloody  day. 

On  (he  Union  left  roared  up  the  thunder 
from  (he  waiting  horse  artillery  of  Stuart. 

Into  the  ranks  poured  the  iron  from  this 
point  on  Ihfir  hank. 

Mercileasiron— tor  the  men  began  to  fall, 
and  the  Hrst  shrieks  of  agony  on  that  day 
now  ascended  to  the  skies  amid  the  rumble 

"  SimiUt'inenusly      the      Federal      batleri.  s 

Sliiit  and  sliell  were  shrieking  overheail  .-is 
well  as  beluu- in  the  bine  front;  the  heighls 
were  being  stoniifd  liy  artillerists,  and  in  a 
wav  that  c.ui-i  il  nianv" a  graycoat  to  bite  the 
d^^t  lM-li>re  il  came  his  tain  to  Are  upon  the 
ailvaiuiiig  and  hated  Yankees. 

Into  the  ranks  of  blue  went  the  shots 
from  Stuart.  ,  ,   ,, 

Into  the  fastnesses  of  leafless  oak  and  tall 
pine-s,  the  shells  that  burst  and  scattered 
among  men  and  trees,  and  scattered  their 
still  Imniing  particles  iu  the  undergrowth. 

And  there  were  cries  of  agony  in  the  am- 
bushed  ranks  ol  the  Confederates,   too,   as 

throats  came  whistling  and  howling  into 
the  midst  of  them,  sowing  death  in  the  shel- 
ter of  the  woods. 

Boomed  the  batteries  of  Stuart — boomed 
and  mowed  the  boys  in  blue,  until  it  seemed 
that  they  could  progress  no  further  without 
being  slain  to  the  last  man. 

When  suddenly  there  wheeled  aside  on  the 
already  bloody  plain  a  long  front  of  blue 
that  marched  steadily,  directly  into  the  can- 
nons' mouth  at  first,  then  with  a  rousing 
Union  cheer  charged  upon  the  foe  that  had 
peppered  them  from  the  flank   with  heavy 

Charged,  silenced  and  driven  back  into  in- 
activity those  terrible  guns  that  had  met 
and  slain  them  as  they  advanced  to  attack 
the  corps  of  Hill,  ensconced  on  the  grim 
heights. 

Then  back  again  into  the  regular  aavano- 
ing  lines— on  before  a  foe  that  waited  but 
had  not  yet  renlied  either  to  the  roaring  ar- 
tillery or  the  flaming  muskets  of  the  skir- 
mishers who  were  nearing  the  woods  at  the 
ascent  in  a  very  multitude. 

Among  these  skirmishers  was  the  form  of 
Simmons,  the  scout,  in  his  suit  of  blue. 

Striving  continually  to  lead,  he  was  some 


disli 


nd- 


iug  a  bullet -„ 

could  see  a  Confederate  liat  or  limb. 

Well  known  to  the  men,  and  popular  on 
field  or  in  camp,  the  eyes  of  many  were  on 
him,  while  their  muskets  barked  loudly, 
of  times  at  a  foe  whose  position  they  could 
not  see,  but  only  guessed  at. 

"Come  ou,  boys!"  shouted  the  daring 
scout.    "Come  on!    Give  it  to  them  lively !" 

But  though  Simmons  thus  celled  cheerily, 
he  was  too  old  »  man  in  battle  to  misunder- 
stand that  ominous  silence  which  prevailed 
iu  the  Confederate  fastnesses. 

He  well  knew  that  shortly  would  come  the 
flame,  the  smoke,  the  lead  and  iron  that  was 
to  engulf  the  bodies  of  heroes  in  a  swimming 
tide  of  blood. 

But  he  shrunk  not;  his  voice  could  be 
heard  ringing  out,  and  at  times  there  was  a 
cheer  of  encouragement  from  the  following 
skirmishers,  as  they  caught  the  spirit  of  his 
enthusiasm  and  pressed  on,  on,  with  still 
banging  muskets,  still  stern  bravery,  until 
they  were  forging  up  the  heights. 

And  yet  no  sound  from  the  half-concealed 
enemy. 

The  fact  gave  an  additioual  courage  to  the 
men. 

But  Simmons  was  not  deceived. 

At  his  side  was  a  young  soldier  who  had 
stuck  pretty  close  to  him  from  the  first,  as 


Jiate 


"  Look  out,  my  lad,"  Simmons  said,  with  a 
half  toss  of  his  head  sideways  to  the  young 
fellow  as  he  drew  back  the  hammer  of  his 
rifle  for  another  shot.  "Lookout!  It  seems 
comparatively  quiet  now;  but  keep  your 
eyes  skinned  for  signs.  There'll  be  a  wave 
of  flume  begin  to  burst  out  of  the  hills  pres- 
ently, unless  I'm  mightily  mistaken,  and  if 
you  can  cadli  sight  of  it  in  time,  go  down- 
go  down  iiist  as  flat  as  you  can,  or  you're  a 
goner.     Mindine,  lioiv " 

His  s|.i'."  Il  teiniinated  with  the  last  word, 
wliiih  was  j.-ikeil  outshortas  he  raised  his 
rill.' anil  tiivd  upon  a  small  gray  object  that 
Wat  iiinirnding  from  behind  a  tree. 

The  leg  (it  u  t.'onfederate. 

And  immediately  upon  the  shot  came  a 
yill  of  pain  which  even  these  two,  so  far  in 
advaiiee  and  .so  near  to  the  mark,  could 
scarcely  hear  for  the  din  which  was  progress- 


ing off  in  rear  and  left,  where,  iu  the  latter 
instance,  the  detachment  sent  to  silence  the 
battery  of  Stuart  was  returning  to  form  in 
with  the  rest  now  almost  at  tho  base  of  tha 
heights. 

Behind  Meade  was  the  support  of  Gibbon. 

Two  great  waves  of  blue  humanity  ad- 
vancing across  that  smoky  jilain  upon  a  foe 
(hat  held  an    eiiignial    silence,  /et  who  wai 

Then,  as  the  men  of  Meade  came  through 
a  lining  of  the  sinekv  cloud,  suddenly  they 
IV, -11.  apprised  of  the  "fact  that  the  gray  host 


r 

"lU  th 

lair  hi 

'rst 

a  shock 

like  an  earth- 

h 

avy  guns 

that  hurled 

and 

ing,  u 

angling 

Ilia;'  g;v 

It  and  ghast- 

y?. 

ipsm 

It 

with  the  gni 

ketrv 

the  wh 

,-11 

ng   sluL-s 

aiid  now  the 

kno. 

f^eli 

eral  h 

roes  wi 

h   u  shrillne 

ss  that  outdid 

the 

ruml. 

e  of   tl 

ell 

ittle  gro 

wing  warmer 

trepid 


iffii 


s,  over  the  dead  bodies  of 
comrades,  swerved  the  survivors. 

Aud  still  ou,  on,  intrepidly  on,  into  the 
.ace  of  the  flaming  hill  marched  the  boys  in 
blue. 

Again  the  thunder  of  death,  again  th« 
shrieks  that  caused  the  blood  in  the  pulses 
of  the  bravest  to  stand  still  for  an  instant— 
but  on,  nobly  on;  while  the  same  cry,  this 
time  from  other  ojficers,  for  the  first  had 
fallen  amone  their  slaughtered  men; 

"Close  up!  close  up!" 

And  close  up  it  was,  and  still  on. 

Now  tin'v  i\  1  re  ai  llie  railroad. 

Into  the  liatlei  il  s  there,  and  perhaps  ther» 
was  soniillihig  like  an  universal  curse  upon 
the  lips  of  these  |ioivder-staiiied  warriors  ai 
they  charged  up  upon  tho  gunners  who  had 
hailed  upon  them  the  devastation  of  tho 
merciless  cannons'  mouths. 

Back  went  the  host  of  gray  before  the 
wrathful  avengers— back  and  up  the  hill- 
Still  shrieked  the  shelling  batteries  in  the' 
Uuion  rear,  to  make  more  powerful  the  ad-  , 
vauce  of  these  men  who  were  proving 
themselves  wonderful  on  that  day. 

Still  replied  in  flaming  sheets  the  musketry 
of  the  hard  jjressed  Confederates. 

And  ou,  on,  up  the  hill  toward  the  plateau 
beyond,  marched  the  long  lines  of  blue,  for- 
ward to  the  heights  of  death,  forward  to  the 
maelstrom  of  blood. 

Back  in  turn  went  the  butternut  host  of 
Lane  before  such  men  as  they  who  had 
marched  across  the  plain  to  strike  the  grim- 


had  penetrated  the  fastness  ;  his  men,  even 
in  the  carnage  around  them,  gathered  spirit 
from  their  sturdy  progress,  and  the  Union 
cheer  reached  to  Jackson's  ears  in  an  omin- 
ous way. 

After  Lane,  Archer!  Flank  after  flank 
went  back!  On,  on,  the  gallant  men  of 
Meade  ! 

The  earth,  the  air,  the  trees,  even  the  stray 
stones  that  lay  upon  the  wintry  carpet  of  a 
hitherto  Hercynian  grove,  seemed  to  be 
vomiting  fire  and  flashes — fire  flashes  and 
death  for  the  blue  and  gray. 

At  close  quarters  was  the  fight,  where 
friend  and  foe  were  being  enveloped  in  the 
sulphurous  breath  of  powder. 

The  Federal  artillery  had  ceased.  The 
troops  were  "in,"  frightfully  in;  to  con- 
tinue the  firing  now  would  be  to  kill  their 


CHAPTER  XX. 

HOW   THE   BOYS   CAME   OUT. 

Another  cheer— one  of  those  Union  cheers 
that  can  by  volume  make  Itself  heard  even 
in  the  after  pages  of  history— presently 
broke  above  the  battle's  din,  seeming  to  be 
caught  in  the  branches  of  the  trees  around 
and  held  there  with  a  prolonging  tenor. 

Firing  torightand  left,  wedged  in  between 
the  scattering  front  of  Lane  and  Archer,  the 
Union  boys  had  so  encompassed  the  Confed- 
erates that  many  threw  down  their  arms, 
and  shortly  following  came  the  surrender  of 
hundreds  of  butternut  suits  and  the  capture 
and  trampling  of  Confederate  standards. 

Rousing  cheers,  triumphant  cheers  after 
that  scene  of  blood. 

A  scene  of  blood  still,  for  the  men  of 
Meade— gallant  Meade!— were  pressing  for- 
ward through  the  woody  depths,  through  the 
hail  of  lead  showered  upon  them  from  every 
covert,  on,  on  to  the  military  road,  ..    — 


le 


THE  -WAR  LIBRARY. 


Alas,  that  famous  road  ! 
For  presently  there  came  in  the  from  of 
the  so  far  victorious  Federals  such  a  Are  as 
no  man  or  body  of  men  could  withstand— 
fire  tliat  carried  with  it  fresher  death,  fresher 
sights  of  nKiiiKlings  and  horror. 

The  division  of  Early  was  there;  the  sec- 
ond line  of  Jackson  was  there  ! 

Grav-clad  soldiers,  who  were  fresh  and 
eager  for  the  fray. 

Loiider  grew  the  din  ;  more  withering  the 
fire  from  this  foe  that  seemed  to  have  always 
a  fresh  front  for  the  men  in  blue  who  had 
fought  their  way  so  gallantly  forward. 

Then  back  in  turn,  the  men  of  the  North, 
before  a.  foe  that  poured  in  numbers  and  vol- 
leys of  bullets  upon  them. 

Back  and  into  utter  riot  and  destruction  it 
would  have  been  had  not  new  cheers  arose 
to  greet  them  as  they  fairly  fled— the  cheers 
of    Gibbon's    men,    who    were    fortunately 
therein  time  to  meet  their  comrades  in  re- 
treat and  face  the  foe,  charging  now  in  turn. 
Next  the  troops  of  Gibbon  wavered. 
Wavered  and  fell  back,  back,  until  there 
came  a   moment   of   confusion    amid  that 
storm  of  shot  and  shout  and  smoke  that  ap- 
peared to  speak  an  annihilation  for  the  he- 
roes who  still  survived  the  spirited  advance 
of  Meade. 
Again  a  welcome  cheer. 
Birney  was  there. 

From  a  front  that  stood  like  adamant  there 
broke  a  long  line  of  flame,  backed  by  instan- 
taneous bayonets,  that  sent  a  check 
into  the  exuberant  Johnnies,  sent  a  record 
of  death  that  caused  them  to  strain  their 
eyes  through  the  battle-smoke  to  discover  at 
times  theplaceiu  the  ranks  they  had  lost  by 
the  d'sappearance  of  charging  comrades  at 
their  side. 

Thousands  lay  on  that  field,  on  the  plain, 
and  in  the  woods  where  the  still  firm  Jack- 
son waited  to  receive  the  next  advance  of 
the  Federal  host. 
Thousands  dead  and  dying. 
And  while  tli"  shattered  troops  withdrew 
to  retoi  111  on  th.'  sanguinary  plain,  they 
heard  (ith.r  ;;iiiis,  ctlirr  sounds  of  war  and 
slaughter  ulT  to  the  n;;ht,  where  Couch  wa.s 
assailing  Longstreet  on  his  grim  heights  and 
behind  his  almost  utterly  impregnable  in- 
trenohments. 

The  prior  shelling  uf  the  woods  by  the 
Federal  batteries  had  in  many  places  result- 
ed in  an  ignition  of  the  undergrowth. 

From  the  stubble  to  the  trees  had  the  sly 
flames  licked  and  iiisinii.ated  themselves, 
crackling  here  and  there  amid  the  screen  of 
smoke  from  the  powdery  discharges,  until 
at  last  there  was  a  consideral)le  tire  in  pro- 
gress in  the  vicinity  of  the  railroad. 

In  the  midst  of  this  was  a  hiiiuan  figure — a 
man  in  blue,  wlio  seemed  to   be  deserted  by 
his  comrades,  and  wounded  severely,  for  he 
crawled  along  with  almost  superhuman  ef- 
fort away  from  tlie  immediate  spot  of  the 
recent  awful  picture  of  sacriHce. 
Around  his  head  was  a  bloody  bandage. 
His  face  was  white  as  death. 
At  times,  as  he  crawled,   he  would  pause 
and  raise  one  hand  gripingly  to  his  breast,  as 
if  to  tear  away  something  there  that  caused 
him  an   unutterable    anguish    of  body  and 
spirit. 

His  lips  looked  dry,  and  his  eyes  had  m 
them  an  e.xpression  not  exactly  of  terror, 
yet  of  anxiety  to  escape  from  those  who 
were  charging  his  couiraaes  in  blue  down 
the  slope  and  over  the  slippery  plain. 

The  man  was  the  blue-clad  scout,  Sim- 
mons. 

Slowly,  paintullv  he  was  dragging  himself 
along,  his  eyes  turning  to  Heaven  through 
the  bare  tree-tops  at  times,  as  hemnrmured; 
"T'vegotit  at  last!  Oh,  God,  have  mercy 
on  me  for  what  little  of  wrong  I  may  have 
done  in  my  past.  1  know  I  cannot  survive 
this  terrible  hole  in  ray  breast.  The  blood  is 
flowing,  flowing.  Soon  old  Simmons  will  be 
no  more.  But  I've  done  mv  duty  as  a  sol- 
dier, yes,  I  know  I  have.     Have  merev  on  my 


soul,  oh, 


Grasping  tufts  and  uinleiLrrowlh,  tediously 
hewas  making  his  w;iv.  ai;M  all  tin-  time 
around  him  was  creeiiinL  i  !  i  ,  i.ri  nam- 
ing pall  of  Are  thai  >,  ,  ,  .  ,  m  its 
crackling,  lappiuir  sdiii:;  .  i  wash 
of  an  ocean's  waves  el,  i  -ei.lier 
in  blue  was  not  eMM  I  'r-luful 
wound  in  his  brea^i,  I  I  '  '  _ies  ot 
flamethatwereeirliiM.  ;  luirer, 
spreading,  liekinu',  lap;.:  .  :_  ei,,ser 
upon  him  as  he  ^tni;:-le,|  mm!i  In-  eying 
strength  to  reach  a  little  open,  u  short  dis- 
tance ahead. 

Ah  I  such  a  struggle  for  a  man  who,  a  few 
brisf  hours  previous,  had  been  in  nil  the  vig- 
or of  health  and  strength,  the  bn:'  est  of  the 


skirmishers  who  advanced  upon  the  gray 
host  ahead  of  Meade. 

At  every  weary  foot  his  strength  appeared 
to  lessen.  At  last  he  paused  at  the  side  of  a 
great  log  that  chanced  in  his  way,  and  with 
one  hand  upon  it,  half  raised  himself  to 
glance  back  over  the  tortuous  route  he  had 
come. 

Behind  him,  a  merceless  foe,  who,  in  the 
heat  of  conflict  might  not  consider  that  he 
was  already  a  dying  man,  and  would  hasten 
liis  death  either  with  a  merciless  bullet  or 
the  stinging  prod  of  a  bayonet. 

For  he  w.as  totally  unarmed  :  his  rifle  gone, 
and  the  pistols,  at  his  belt  formerly,  now  dis- 
charged to  the  last  chamber. 

The  fearful  shudder  of  his  frame  showed 
itself  iu  his  pallid  face  as  he  cast  that  hope- 
less glance  ar.Mual  him. 

He  tiled  le  d  I  ag  hlmselt  closer  to  the  log. 

1  he  eliei  t  was  weak,  and  he  sunk  down 
aj;aiii,  with  eyes  flxed  upon  the  creeping 
Uauu's  that  were  coming  nearer  and  nearer 
to  enguU  him— flames  iu  the  trees  overhead, 
flames  on  the  ground,  creeping,  crawling, 
relentless  flames  that  must  soon  reach  his 
clothing,  even  though  he  could  have  con- 
tinued that  slothful  flight. 

Upon  the  little  red  tongues  advancing, 
upon  the  boughs  overhead  that  were  crisp- 
ing as  the  fire  drew  near,  his  eyes  were  turn- 
ed roamingly,  and  through  his  soul  thrilled 
the  thought ■ 

"  Am  I  to  die  thus  ?  Have  I  been  the  scout, 
the  soldier  that  I  have,  to  die  at  lasi,  not  on 
the  field  of  battle,  but  by  this  terrible  de- 
stroyer tliat  leaves  no  trace  of  the  man  who 
deserves  a  record  in  the  history  of  fighters. 
It  is  too  hard.    Ha!  what's  that?" 

An  expression  came  into  the  agonized 
face. 

Simmons  pricked  his  ears. 

And  well  he  might ;  for  it  seemed  as  if  the 
horror  of  his  surroundings  was  not  yet  full. 

A  new  sound  broke  upon  his  hearing. 

The  retreating  Federals  were  now  far  back 
down  the  siope  they  had  conquered  after  so 
much  bloodshed  ;  it  would  have  appeared 
that  this  wounded  hero  might  escape  the 
additional  torture  of  meeting  with  a  thirsty 
and  e.xcited  foe. 

But  that  which  he  heard  now  brought  the 
blood  almost  quivering  through  his  veins. 

It  was  the  deep  bay  ot  a  bloodhound,  that 
arose  in  the  midst  of  the  flre  in  his  rear,  and 
there  were  shouts  accompanying  the  well- 
kiionn  note  of  that  scourge  of  the  planta- 
tion, which  increased  the  whiteness  of  his 
features. 

"  A  bloodhound  !"  he  gasped.  "  There  is  a 
bloodhound  on  my  track  and  with  him  some 
of  those  Carolinians,  no  doubt,  who  would 
flay  even  a  dying  man.  Hear  their  shouts. 
Oh,  God  !  give  mc  strength  to  at  least  pet 
withiu  the  lines,  that  I  may  die  a  soldier's 
death!" 

He  assayed  again  to  crawl  forward 

But  the  attempt  was  futile. 

Simmons  was  done  for;  not  another  foot 
could  he  go. 

With  compressed  lips  he  turned  his  head 
in  the  direction  of  the  approaching  sound, 
which  was  at  a  sliglit  angle  from  the  slowly 
emrultiiig  liie,  and  through  his  teeth  he  mut- 
tereil.  Milli  a  li  ue  seldier's  nerve: 

••  Death  is  death  after  all !  I  have  not  long 
tolUe!  Let  it  eeint^the  hound,  or  the  bay- 
onets ot  the  murderous  rebs.  Let  it  come. 
I  am  ready.  And  I  shall  die  as  I  have 
lived '• 

Just  then  he  caught  sight  of  the  hound 
whose  notes  had  startled  him. 

Bounding  forward  through  the  trees  was 
a  huge  and  terrible  form,  bounding  rat  her  as 
if  maddened  than  as  if  in  pursuit  of  a  trail. 

Behind  the  dog  were  a  half  dozen  forms  in 
gray  who  were  shouting,  it  seemed  to  Sim- 
mons, in  a  maimer  of  triumph  or  posifivee.x- 
ultation. 

He  closed  his  eyes  heavily,  having  nerved 
himself  for  the  horrible  death  that  was  im- 
minent. 

But  that  sort  ot  death  was  not  iu  store  for 
the  brave  scout. 

The  dog  was  the  blind  and  wandering 
Durga. 

He  was  pursued  himself  by  a  crowd  of 
hooting  Confederates  who  had  strayed  from 
the  ranks. 

And  as  the  dog  and  the  Johnnies  came  in 
sight  of  the  wounded  scout,  simultaneously 
there  was  a  new  aspect  to  the  scene  which 
gave  Simmons  a  thrill  of  unspeakable  hope. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE   WOODS   OX   FIRE. 

At  an  angle  from  one  side  approached  the 
Confederates. 

At  an  opposite  angle  was  coming  the  figure 
o!  a  man  on  a  full  run. 


Midway  between  the  two  angles  thus 
formed,  and  not  yet  within  the  radius  of  the 
burning  woods,  was  the  huge  dog,  Burga. 

Simmons  was  unaware  of  the  fact  of  the 
animal's  having  lost  itssight ;  he  only  recog- 
nized in  the  strong  monster  an  enemy  far 
worse  than  even  the  r^ 'lent less  foes  in  gray. 

His  eyes  were  rivet,  d  upon  the  single  man 
who  was  eommg  on  at  a  run,  and  who  seem- 
ed to  be  making  for  the  spot  where  he  lay. 

This  man  he  presently  saw  was  Robert 
Ross. 

At  about  the  same  time  he  discerned  the 
brother  Unionist  drawing  near,  the  Confed- 
erates espied  him  also,  and  their  gaze  half 
searching  ahead  of  the  racing  course  being 
pursued  by  their  enemy,  they  next  saw  the 
wounded  and  apparently  helpless  soldier  by 
the  log. 

A  shout  went  up  from  them  that  was  one 
of  savage  elation. 

In  the  same  moment,  Simmons,  who  re- 
alized that  they  were  now  making  surely  to- 
ward him,  raised  his  voice  in  a  cry  for  suc- 

"  Battery  Bob  !"  he  called,  with  all  the  re- 
maining strength  he  possessed. 
And  the  answer  came  back,  while  yet  the 


"  Haste,  Battery  Bob,  or  I  may  be  tortured 
by  both  dogs  and  men.    Haste!" 

"  Oh,  I'm  coming  right  along." 

While  the  words  were  yet  on  his  lips,  he 
sprung  into  the  little  circle  that  was  purliai- 
ly  clear  around  the  log  and  halted,  breath- 
ing hard,  at  Simmons'  side. 

"Thank  God!"  the  dying  scout  aspirated, 
with  emotion.  "  I  will  at  least  die  a  soldier's 
death  after  all." 

'•You're  not  dying,!  hope,"  Ross  inter- 
rupted. 

But  a  glance  down  at  the  blood  wet  blouse 
of  the  other  as  he  put  the  question,  showed 
him  that  Simmons  was  indeed  near  to  his 
last  moment  on  earth. 

"Only  keep  them  off  until  I  am  dead," 
Simmons  pleaded,  as  if  he  fully  believed  in 
the  ability  of  Battery  Bob  to  do  that  thing 
with  the  scattered  and  small  squad  of  Con- 
federates who  bad  quickened  their  pace  as 
they  saw  a  prospect  of  capturing  one  of  the 
Yankees,  if  not  both. 

For  from  that  distance  they  could  not  dis- 
tinguish that  one  of  the  blue  clad  pair  was 
wounded  fatally. 

"  The  dog !  the  dog !"  Simmons  warned,  as 
the  note  of  the  staggering  bloodhound  rose 
again  and  louder,  close  at  hand. 

"  Have  no  fear  of  him,"  assured  Rose. 
"That  is  the  beast  you  saw  me  meet  in  the 
woods  last  month.  My  little  machine  shot 
out  his  eyes.    He  is  as  harmless  as  a  kitten.  ' 

"  And  have  you  the  machine  with  you  ?" 

"  Why,  do  you  not  observe  this  precious 
little  hump?"  turning  round  that  the  other 
might  see  he  wore  again  that  hump,  which, 
on  a  former  occasion,  had  converted  itself 
into  a  most  formidable  battery. 

"  I  am  glad  of  that,"  said  the  scout,  wear- 
ily and  half  closing  his  eyes  in  weakness. 

"Have  courage,"  said  Ross.  "The  John- 
nies are  almost  on  us.  But  there  are  not 
many  of  them  ;  and  I  think  I  can  surprise 
them  a  little." 

With  a  coolness  that  was  at  first  astonish- 
ing to  the  rapidly  advancing  graycoats.  Bat- 
tery Bob  awaited  them. 

'Then  they  shouted  loudly  again,  as  they 
thought,  from  his  action  that  he  meant 
peaceably  to  surrender. 

The  next  instant  they  were  undeceived. 

"Come  on.  Johnnies!"  hallooed  the  spy. 
"  I  am  waiting  to  give  you  a  little  dose  that 
is  more  lively  than  pills.  I  think  I  can  whip 
about  a  score  like  you.  Iliirry  up  there,and 
let  the  ball  open.  ()h,  I'm  justdyiugtomake 
your  acquaiiitaiiie.  " 

The  blimi  Me.idhound,  hearing  voices 
ahead,  ha. 1  lurned  aside  in  his  flight,  for  it 
had  t)een  a  tiii,'lit  liein  the  goadings  of  the 
Confederate  when  they   ascertained  that  he 

■The  men  in  butternut  suits  slackened  their 
gait,  though  still  advancing. 

The  words  ot  the  bold  Union  boy  had 
struck  them  strangely ;  perhaps  he  was  not 
alone  there.  Others  of  his  comrades  might 
be  in  the  undergrowth  beyond,  separated, 
as  he  appeared  to  be.  from  the  retreating 
Union  lines. 

But  they  still  came  on. 

And  one  cried : 

"  You'll  know  us  soon  enough,  you  cussed 
Yank !  We're  just  looking  for  you  and  a  few 
more  like  you." 

■'And  I  am  right  here  ready  for  a  grand 
levee.     Come  on." 

They  were  now  not  more  than  thirty  feet 
from  Ross. 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


Heachiug  the  little  clearing  several  of 
them  paused  outright. 

"Come  on,  here,"  urged  the  others,  still 
pressing  forward  and  not  understanding  this 
move  of  hesitation. 

A  murmur  went  up  from  those  who  had 
stopped. 

Mingled  in  the  murmur  was  the  cry: 

"  It's  Battery  Bob,  of  Antietam." 

"  Well,  we'll  Battery  Bob  him  an'  bobtail 
him,  too.    Forward!" 

"  Not  me,  for  one." 

"  Nor  me,"  another  began  to  say ;  then  he 
cut  short  thespeeeh  and  blurted  forth:  "Loot 
out!  Ifs  Battery  Bob,  I  tell  you,  an'  if  you 
ain'tspry  you'll  be  peppered  to  death  with 
bis|iuternal  miichine,  "  and  the  man  who  ut- 
tered the  warning  tool£  to  the  shelter  of  a 
tree  as  fast  as  his  legs  could  carry  him. 

The  warning  was  unheeded  by  the  few 
who  as  yet  knew  nothing  of  Battery  Bob  or 

Ou  they  came  with  renewed  leaps— now 
not  twenty  feet  separated  them  from  the 
man  tlit-y  weiL'  coiiHdent  of  capturing. 

But  a  siKbU'u  cluiiigo  came  over  the  scene. 

Tliiit  terrible  liuinp  on  the  back  of  the  spy 
was  turned  toward  them  ;  up  went  the  flap 
of  the  double- backed  coat  an 

Whirr!  twirr— whirr-r-r ! 

The  rattling,  grinding  sound  began  as  we 
have  seen  it  begin  before  when  Ross  was  in 
danger. 

The  result  was  as  formerly. 

A  thick  shower  of  small  slugs  hurled  with 
a  marvelous  force,  met  the  Confederates 
fully  in  the  face. 

Instantly  the  woods  were  filled  with  howls 

Some  threw  up  their  arms,  turned  and  fled 
in  an  aimless  way  that  indicated  they  might 
now  be,  like  Uurga,  robbed  suddenly,  aw- 
fully an  forever  of  their  sight. 

Some  sunk  to  the  earth;  and  these  last 
Ross  knew  must  have  received  a  portion  of 
his  wonderful  discharge  fairly  in  their  star- 
tled brains. 

Again  had  Simmons,  the  scout,  an  oppor- 
tunitv  to  witness  the  iugenious  contrivance 
of  Battery  Bob's  hump  at  its  formidable 
wock.  Even  in  his  rapidly  falling  moment, 
he  found  strength  to  exclaim  : 

"Good— good!  Give  it  to  them.  Ah,  it  I 
but  hud  the  strength  to  load  and  Are  my 
dear  old  rlHe,  I  would  help  you  ;ln  that  piece 
of  amusement,  Battery  Bob!" 

At  this  point,  those  who  had  wisely  taken 
to  cover,  instantly  upon  perceiving  who  ii 
was  they  were  about  to  encounter,  broke 
forth  and  took  to  their  heels  in  a  lively 
flight. 

For  there  came  a  brief  lull  in  that  whir- 
ring, rattling,  slug-slinging  machine,  during 
which  there  was  au  opportunity  to  escape. 

Several  of  the  Confederates  were  on  the 
ground.  The  others,  appalled  by  this  unex- 
pected style  of  warfare,  fled  precipitately 
after  the  rest,  with  scared  glances  over  their 
shoulders  at  the  single  man  who  could  thus 
so  easily  meet  the  assault  of  nearly  a  score. 

Ross  indulged  in  a  low  laugh  as  he  watched 
the  routed  men  in  gray. 

"I  guess  they  wont  tiy  that  on  again, 
Siirimons;  do  you  thiuk  they  will?" 

There  was  no  respoiise. 

He  glanced  quiokly  down  at  the  now  pros- 
trate form  of  the  scout  and  repeated  the 
question. 

As  no  reply  came  to  the  second  remark,  he 
stooped,  with  a  feeling  within  him  of  what 
he  was  about  to  d  iscover-. 

A  closer  look  at  the  white  and  drawn  face 
told  the  tale. 

Simmons  had  passed  from  earth  and  the 
sound  of  war. 

Sounds  of  war  that  was  then  breaking 
afresh  in  the  vicinity  of  Marye's  Heights, 
where  the  Confederate  guns  were  sweeping 
the  plain  lidow,  s>vee|iiiit;  t  Im  ranks  of  brave 
French  v.iii>  m  as  :iil  v:inciuj;  into  the  bloody 
maelstriMii,  1  .lariii^'  luuiUr  and  louder  each 
moment  iiimi  (  he  iiiiiU'-^iiatile  crests. 

through  tl]i- iiiarryred  liattiilions  there— yet 
on,  ■' cl'isiiig  up,"  tliey  went,  into  the  can- 
non's njontli,  into  t!ie  laws  (if  ii  very  hell  of 
fire  tliat  seemed  ciessed  within  itself,  its 
missiles  9o  dense  that  they  were  themselves 
turned  aside  by  contact  in  midair. 

Behind  French,  the  brigades  of  Hancock, 
fllliug  up  the  gaps  in  the  r.mksgoni'  before- 
great  gaps  that  oeciirreil  i;uii(lly  witli  every 
passing  moment,  until  the  seeni' looked  more 
likea  pool  of  whelesali^  slau-liter  than  the 
shock  of  an  army  with  the  ;_n amy  foe. 

Still  on,  while  these  minutes  of  death 
seemed  like  torturous  hours  to  the  wavering 
bovs  in  blue  who  found  themselves  fighting 
a  foe  who  gave  them  no  opportunity  to 
strike  back. 


Ah  !  the  shrieks,  the  hoarse  din  of  the  ter- 
rific guns,  the  ghastly  and  appalling  picture 
of  these  thousands  perishing  in  rivers  of 
blood  before  the  heiglits  of  Fredericksburg! 

Noble  Second  corps!  men  who  could  go  no 
further  in  the  face  of  the  showers  and  waves 
of  iron  mowing  them  down,  yet  who  would 
not  retreat,  but  stood  there  as  it  planted  in 
the  gory  spot— spectacle  of  heroic  manhood 
defying,  as  it  were,  the  scythe  of  the  horrible 

Next  the  division  of  Howard.  Next  the 
divisions  of  Sturgis  and  Getty,  all  "in,"  all 
adding  fresh  victims  to  the  hail  of  destruc- 
tion booming,  tearing,  plowing  down  from 
the  heights  or  belching  in  lines  of  flame  from 
the  rifle  trenches  and  the  memorable  stone 
wall. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

AN   UNWELCOME    VISITOB. 

From  the  quivering  earth  to  the  weeping 
sky  the  air  seemed  to  hold  with  an  awful 
hollowness  the  pervading  roar  of  battle. 

Far  over  the  hills  and  the  adjacent  river 
rumbled  the  loud  booming  guns  and  the  vol- 
leying musketry. 

Dead  anddyinground— overthem  at  times, 
as  if  they  were  mere  nothings  in  the  track  of 
the  wheels,  the  batteries  flew  hither  and 
thither  along  the  Union  front,  searching  for 
a  position  whence  they  might  hurl  back 
some  of  that  frightful  destruction  upon  the 
grey  host  now  proving  itself  so  terrible  in 
its  reception  of  the  Federal  army. 

Volcanic  heights- terrific  plains— shudder- 
ful  sounds  at  Fredericksburg. 

Then  more,  still  more,  into  that  yawning 
doom  of  death. 

Forthemen  of  Humphreys  were  seen  ad- 
vancing through  the  smcky  flashes,  advanc- 
ing steadily  and  with  white  faces  over  the 
moaning  masses  on  the  plains— forward  into 
the  breach  left  by  the  dead  and  dying  bat- 
talions of  Hancock.  . 

Forward  bravely,  then  impetuously,  with 
charging  bayonets  and  a  ringing  cheer  that 
was  taken  up  along  the  whole  liue. 

Many  fell  with  that  last  forlorn  cheer  on 
their  lips,  to  rise  no  more,  or  lay  writhing 
with  torn  and  bleeding  bodies  amid  the  pro- 
gressing havoc. 

And  painful  as  the  grim  death  into  which 
they  were  fast  sinking,  was  the  sound,  the 
sight,  presently,  that  told  them  they  were 
perishing  without  recompense,  dying  as  had 
the  thousands  before  them  by  the  stone  wall 
and  the  ditches,  where  the  enemy  had  so 
often  during  the  day,  and  now  again,  driven 
the  boys  in  blue  back  from  the  base  of  the 
heights,  where  the  corps  of  Longstreet,  yet 
fresh,  yet  hardly  used  in  the  slaughter  of  the 
hours  past,  looked  down  on  the  work  of  the 
gunners  and  the  advance  line  with  a  savage 
triumph. 

Back,  back,  the  men  of  Humphrey— back 
in  a  disorder  that  was  nearly  a  panic. 

And  well  might  it  have  been  a  panic,  where 
they  could  accomplish  nothing,  but  saw 
themselves  going  down  in  bleeding  heaps 
under  the  cloud  of  smoke,  under  those  vom- 
iting mouths  of  flame  and  iron  and  roarings. 

It  was  a  welcome  thing  that  night  at  last 
drew  down  upon  the  heated  and  blood 
slimed  earth. 

And  with  its  darkness.  General  Burnsidc 
still  panted,  while  in  consultation  with  his 
officer,  for  the  hours  to  pass  by  and  bring 
another  day,  that  he  could  again  order  the 
hopeless  attack,  again  send  into  the  whirl, 
the  dissonance  and  carnage  of  the  plain,  (he 
brave  men  who  survived  by  a  miracle  the 
horrifying  work  of  the  guns  on  the  day  just 

Night  over  plain  and  crest,  night  over  the 
little  town  that  was  now  of  histrionic  and 
bloody  fame. 

The  two  captains,  Hariv  Denver  and  Will 
HaiilHiL',  had  (i-urrd  e(iiispiciiously  amid 
thesanguiu.Misehisli  , if  aims. 

Hauling  s  v,  Imle  edmiiaiiy  had  been  swept 
away;  of  the  veterans  who  had  followed 
and  survived  with  Denver  at  the  Antietam, 
not  more  than  a  dozen  of  his  company  re- 
mained. 

A  sad  night  for  those  who  could  mourn 
the  loss  of  brave  comrades,  while  they  paid 
silent  trilinte  to  their  fateful  heroism. 

While  the  battle  waged  the  DeKay  man- 
sion was   tightly  closed,  and  to  all  appear- 


bh.ish 


them  tlic  devastation  that  ivasgomg  on  hour 
after  hour  with  no  apparent  result  but  the 
slaughter  of  the  disheartened  soldiery. 


"  Is  it  not  awful  ?"  exclaimed  Mildred, 
without  removing  her  eye  from  the  spy- 
glass. 

"Awful,  indeed.  And  I  know  Robert  must 
be  there  in  the  midst  of  it  all." 

"  How  do  you  know?" 

"  Because  he  is  as  brave  a  soldier  as  any 
there." 

"But you  said  he  was  more  particularly 
engaged  as  a  spy.  And  he  must  be  a  very 
successful  one ;  he  was  for  some  time  a  vis- 
itor at  this  house  in  the  guise  of  a  reverend 
gentleman  uiuler  the  name  of  Samuels.  So 
clever  was  thedisguise,  that  I  am  surel  never 
should  have  penetrated  it  but  for  the  ad- 
venture which  caused  him  to  reveal  himself 
to  me." 

"And  have  you  heard  nothing  of  that  cap- 
tain, or  lieutenant,  of  whom  you  spoke  as  a 
disagreeable  admirer  ?" 

"  Fortunately,  no ;  and  I  do  not  want  ever 
to  see  him.  After  that  little  episode  I  think 
the  mask  is  fallen  from  him;  he  may  come 
of  a  proud  and  gentlemanly  stock,  but  he 
certainly  is  not  perpetuating  the  latter  at- 
tribute.   Oh,  look  at  the  frightful  battle." 

"  May  Ileaveu  preserve  my  Robert  it  he  is 
there— and  Ifeel  sure  that  he  is,"  breathed 
Ethel,  earnestly,  as  she  continued,  like  her 
companion,  to  watch  the  distant  scene  of 
smoke  from  which  constantly  burst  and 
reverberated  the  explosion  of  guns  and  mus- 

In  the  mind  of  Mildred  DeKay  there  was 
an  almost  similar  prayer  passing. 

"  I  trust  Heaven  may  guard  the  man  whom 
I  now  suspect,  as  does  Ethel,  to  be  the  man 
my  father  destined  me  to  marry.  I  already 
admire  the  young  and  handsome  officer.  ' 


May  Heaven  preserve  Captain  Denver!" 

When  twilight  drew  down  the  two  girls  re- 
tired from  the  cupola  to  the  lower  portion 
of  the  house. 

As  they  entered  Mildred's  dressing-room 
the  faithful  old  negro  appeared  to  say  : 

"  I'se  done  fix  up  something  fo'  you's  sup- 
per. Missy  Mild'ed." 

"Thank  you.  Snow.  We  will  be  down  in 
a  few  moments." 

Old  Snow  was  the  only  sei  v  ■  'v  -he 

mansion  ;  he  was  a    fortnnal  it 

darky  who  can  turn  a  liainl  i.,- 

thing,  and  took  upon  himself        .      .  -ill 

the  meals  for  his  beloved  yeniif;  misir-ess. 

Pausing  to  give  a  few  touches  to  their  toi- 
let, the  girls  descended  the  staircase  to  par- 
take of  the  refreshmentsispread  in  the  dining- 

As  they  passed  the  parlor  door  Mildred  ob- 
served that  the  room  was  in  darkness. 

"Wait,"  she  said.  "  I  might  as  well  make 
a  light  now,  and  when  we  a: e  through  tea  we 
can  come  in  here." 

Ethel  paused  on  the  threshold  while  Mil- 
dred entered. 

The  young  girl  struck  a  match  and  light- 
ed a  large  and  magnificent  lamp  that  was 
upon  the  center-table. 

The  next  instant  a  startled  cry  broke  from 
her  lips. 

Both  saw  the  form  of  a  man  at  that  mo- 
ment in  the  act  of  entering  the  parlor  from 
the  garden  bv  the  veranda,  the  slight  fasten- 
ings of  the   hitter   having    apparently  been 

Tills  man  ivas  Lieutenant  Vane  Artwell. 

lint  he  iliil  not  now  wear  liis  officer's  uni- 
form. 

His  garb  was  that  of  a  citizen. 

Immediately  upon  finding  himself  discov- 
ered, and  perceiving  who  by,  he  smiled  until 
his  teeth  showed  in  a  way  that  gave  his 
countenance  the  expression  of  a  grin. 

"  Good  evening,"  he  saluted,  coolly,  ad- 
vancing across  the  room  toward  her  as  he 
spoke.  .     . 

"  Vane  Artwell,  what  means  this  intru- 
sion ?" 

"  You  call  it  an  intrusion  ?  Why,  you  once 
received  me  as  one  of  your  most  honored 
visitors." 

"  That  time  is  past,  sir.  Such  can  never  be 
the  case  again." 

"  Rather  a  stern  edict,"  he  said,  with  some 
sarcasm. 

"  Unalterable,  at  least,"  she  retorted 

And  she  added  : 

"  I  would  he  obliged  to  you  if  you  wiU 
leave  the  house." 

He  raised  his  brows. 

"What,  you  order  me  out?'' 

"I  do." 

Ethel  here  came  forward.  She  wished  tO' 
have  a  good  look  at  this  man,  of  whom  Mil- 
dred had  told  her,  as  a  suitor,  and  a  very  im- 
polite one  at  that. 

Artwell  gave  the  girl  no  more  than  a  swift, 
momentary  glance. 


18 


THE  WAU  LIBRARY. 


"  Listen  to  uie  for  a  tew  seoouds.  Mil- 
dred  "  ^  , 

••  Tliat  style  of  address  is  distasteful  to  me, 
sir,"  she  iuterrupted,  sharply. 

"Well.  Miss  DeKay,  then.  Listen  to  me. 
I  have  \iM  louie  liere  lo  resume  reference  to 
asulijeet  -niiiili  vnii  have  so  emphatically 
o-iveumetc)  understaud  was  an  annoyance 
to  you.    Will  vi.u  Ut  me  speak  ?" 


"Wlieiitlu-   Yankees   entered    Fredericks- 

itate  a  rt- treat  nt  tlje  Mississipiii  emupanies,  1 
found  uivsel)  .lit  off  from  Ihein.  I  have 
since  reinaiued  in  hiding.  To-night,  while 
the  mind  and  eves  of  every  accursed  YanKee 
in  the  town  is  'lixed  upon  the  plain  below 
the  heights,  1  ventured  to  steal  forth  in  this 
citizens  ararb,  and  sought  this  house,  which 
brings  me  that  much  nearer  to  my  own  men 
■when  opportunitv  shall  occur  to  permit  ot 
my  making  the  effcu  t  to  reach  them.  I  had 
not  intended  to  let  you  so  much  as  know 
that  I  was  on  the  premises.  But  since  you 
have  surprised  me  at  my  eutenng,  I  will  say 


hat  on 
1  could   have  subsisted 
.Iiivf-n  back  across  the 
1,  V   assuredly   will  be. 
_      _    _  1  he  presence  of  a  Con- 

fedeVate  offic  i  ,n;i,-,aled.  at  this  time,  in 
the  cellars  or  the  DeKay  mansion.  I  shall 
alter  my  intention  slightly,  now,  I  think, 
and  beg  permission  of  you  to  remain  in  the 
house,  only  until  a  titling  chance  presents 
itself  for  my  getting  to  my  regiment.  And  I 
■    •  you  that  I  will  not  refer  to  the  mat- 

eh  has  been  the  cause  ot  uupleasant- 

i  between  us.    Will  you  grant  me  what  1 


the  wine  in  the  cell 
until  the  Y'aiikc.^  ; 
Rappahanuo.  k.   :i^ 


proini: 


•  CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE   DUEL. 

Mildred  looked  him  steadily  in  the  face 
while  he  was  speaking. 

She  saw  that  he  was  in  earnest ;  she  saw 
that  he  made  the  promise  with  the  intention 
of  adliering  to  it. 

Still  she  wavered  between  the  propriety  of 
permitting  him  to  remain  secreted  under 
herioof  and  the  uncharitableness  of  send- 
ing hint  forth  to  be  captured,  beyond  a 
doubt,  by«.'S  enemies. 

"  Would  it  not  be  rather  unkind  to  deny  a 
soldier  shelter  from  his  foes,  no  matter  what 
his  cause?"  queried  Ethel,  geutly,  as  she  ob- 
served the  h.  sitation  of  her  companion. 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,"  Mildred  admit- 
ted, while  she  still  held  the  lieutenant  under 
her  searching  gaze. 

Then,  after  another  moment : 

'•  Lieutenant  Artwell,  I  will  grant  your  re- 
<(uest;  but  do  not  be  deceived  into  imagin- 
ing that  it  is  because  I  entertain  the  least 
friendliness  for  you,  personally.  I  recognize 
only  the  charitable  plea  which  this  young 
laav  suggests.  Y^ou  may  remain  within  the 
house  ifutil  vou  have  a  chance  to  rejoin  your 
regiment.  1  would  accord  the  same  privi- 
lege, reniemlier,  to  the  lowest  private  iu  the 
rauks.  I  will  see  Snow  and  have  him  pre- 
pare a  room  for  you.  Please  be  seated,  and 
1  will  send  him  to  you  with  his  instruc- 
tions." 

"1  thank  you,"  he  said,  with  a  bow.  "I 
am  sure  that  I  shall  be  quite  safe  here " 

"Not  as  safe,  sir,  as  you  may  imagine." 

All  started  as  the    unexpected  voice  filled 

Artwell  wheeled  and  saw  standing  at  the 
open  window  of  the  veraiida  a  young  and 
handsome  Fcdeial   officer;  presently,  in  the 

baekiii.iun.l.  iiiM.iher  cf  similar  rank. 
Thetwosliri-l:;  I  it-'ll  t  Iv  over  the  Sill. 
The  f.iivi]M-t  wns  Captain  Denver,  and  his 
.>(  ;ii.tain  Harding. 


of  entering,"  lie  said,  removing  his  hat  and 
addressing  Mildred. 

Adding: 

"  I  and  my  Inotlier  ofBcer  here    were  com- 


perliaps  tlu-rc  iiii^iht  lie  snmc  s.-ci.-t.-il  in  ilic 
garden.  Entering,  we  were  attracted  by 
just  two  words,  Ihatseemed  to  float  outfroin 
the  open  window:  'Accursed  Yankees!' 
That  at  once  aroused  us.  We  came  to  the 
window  in  time  to  hear  enough  to  convince 
us  that  this  party  is  a  Confederate  soldier  in 
disguise.  More,  I  have  heard  Iroiii  a  man 
known  as  Battery  Bob  about  a  person  named 
Vane  Artwell  who  has  caused  you  a  great 
deal  of  annnvance.  I  am  glad  that  I  find 
the  oppoi  lunity  to  attend  to  Vane  Artwell," 
and  his  glance  rested  peculiarly  on  the  dis- 
guised lieutenant. 


Suddenly  he  said  to  that  individual : 

"  Y''ou  are  armed,  sir,  I  presume?" 

"What  of  that?"  demanded  Artwell, 
firily. 

"  So  much,  that  if  you  are,  and  it  you  know 
how  to  use  the  revolver,  you  will  have  the 
kindness  to  step  into  the  garden  with  me  for 
a  few  moments " 

"To  be  shot  down  like  a  dog  by  you  or 
your  Yankee  friend  there,  I  suppose,"  with 
a  rude  sneer. 

Denver  reddened  under  the  vile  insinua- 
tion. 

But  he  said,  calmly: 

"  We  are  nut  assassins,  sir.  But  you  will 
And  me  a   -- ii ,  icwian.  wli,,,  if  notraisedin 


cried  the  licuicnant,  witli  kimlliug  eyes. 
A  little  crv  came  from  Mildred. 
"It  is  he"!— it  is  he!"  passed   in   her  mind 
like   a    pleasant   flash.    "Ethel   was   right; 
this  man   whom  I  already  admire  is  Henry 
Denver." 

"  Let  us  not  waste  words,  sir.  Will  you 
come  into  the  garden  with  me  ?  Or  are  you 
afraid  to  stand  up  and  exchange  shots?" 

As  the  plain  words  were  spoken,  Mildred 
started  forward  and  laid  one  hand  on  Den- 
ver's arm. 

"  Oh,  do  not!  Y'ou  must  not  fight!"  she 
pleaded. 

"  Miss  DeKay,  I  will  no  longer  conceal 
from  you  the  fact  that  I  am  the  man  for 
whom  you  have  been  searching— the  man 
your  dying  father  wished  you  to  marry.  I 
will  be  honorable  enough  lo  suppose  that 
such  an  union,  forced  upon  a  young  lady, 
who,  perhaps,  has  other  views  for  her  fut- 
ure, had  best  be  averted.  I  must  fight  this 
man,  however,  because  he  has,  in  my  opin- 
ion, according  to  the  story  of  Battery  Boli, 
insulted  you;  and  there  could  be  no  fitter 
person  than  myself,  under  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances of  our  two  lives,  to  avenge  that 
insult." 

"  But  I  have  forgotten  it.  Y'ou  must  not 
fight  him." 

"  In  addition.  Miss  DeKay,  if  I  fall,  you 
will  find  upon  my  person  papers  relinquish- 
ing to  you  the  wealth  which  my  father 
wrongfully  witheld  from  yours.  On  the 
whole,  if  I  fall,  as  I  say,  it  seems  to  me  to  be 
the  easiest  way  out  ot  a  dilemma  that  is, 
doubtless,  a  matter  heretofore  darkening 
other  prospects  in  your  life." 

"  Xo,  no,  no.  You  must  not  fight.  I  want 
you  to  live,"  she  cried. 

Andastlie  infleition  ot  her  earnest  voice 
seemed  to  strike  liini.  and  he  gazed  fixedly 
inquiringly  into  her  beautiful  face,  he: 
cheeks  flamed  witLi  mantling  blushes,  for 
there  could  be  no  doubting  the  fact  tha 
Mildred  more  than  admired  the  handsome 
young  ofBcer— she  loved  him  ! 

This  little  dialogue  and  Mildred's  action 
inflamed  the  heart  and  liraiu  of  the  Confed- 
eiate  lieiitciiaiii,  M  iic  saw  here  before  him 
the  man  whc  v.  ;is  the  successful  rival  for 
possession  cl  tlic  l'i\  .-ly  heiress. 


But  the  young  officer  liad  i;oue  too  far  to 
retreat,  even  at  the  persuasion  of  the  pure 
and  ravishiugly  beautiful  girl  who  clung  to 
him. 

Ethel  laid  her  hand  on  Mildred's  arm,  say- 
ing: 

"  If  you  will  allow  me,  dear  Mildred,  I 
would  say  that  Captain  Denver  cannot  now 
recede  from  the  challenge  he  has  uttered.  1 
abor  the  duello  as  much  as  you  or  anj- one 
.•Ise  docs;  l>nt  I  do  not  f.c  hnu-  he  can  avoid 
Mccfnc-' witii    this    ii!;ii:-'-\vitli    a    si-onifiil 


the  i.-.i>oii  h,-.lcl  Hot  cs,  ape  \VM\\  the  town 
wlieulns  cumpanv  ivti-caicd  I.etore  the  en- 
tering Y'ankees,  was  hciausc  he  was  helpless, 
unconscious  from  llic  cllc.  t  of  drink." 

Judging  by  the  Inrions  L'lance  which  Art- 
well  bestowed  upon  the  speaker,  her  shot 
must  have  struck  home. 

With  a  sigh,  Mildred  permitted  herself  to 
be  led  away  from  the  side  of  the  handsome 


captain  whom  she  felt   she   could   love  with 
all  her  pure  devotion. 
"  Come  !"  urged  Artwell  again. 
"  I  am  ready,  sir." 

Briskly  they  started  toward  the  veranda, 
and  passed  out. 

Mildi-ed  turned  her  head  to  look  palely 
after  them. 

"  Oh,  Ethel,  -what  it  he  should  be  killed  !" 

"Which  one?" 

"Denver— Captain  Denver.  I  tell  you,' 
Ethel,  I  love  him,  yes,  I  love  him.  Oh,  if 
harm  should  come  to  him!" 

"Let  us  hope  not.  I  think  the  captain  can 
take  care  of  himself.  And  he  acted  iu  ac- 
cordance with  my  idea  of  right  when  he 
challenged  ths  lieutenant  to  mortal  com- 
bat." 

"lean  never  accustom  myself  to  such  a 
bloody  code,"  declared  Mildred,  half  start- 
ing toward  the  veranda  to  look  out  upon  the 
eombattants. 

But  she  halted,  saying,  iu  a  half  moan  : 

"No,  no,  no,  I  cannot  witness  it.  Let  us 
seek  a  place  where  our  ears  may  not  catch 
thesDund  of  the  weapons." 

"  Y''ou  are  timid " 

"In  such  a  case,  yes;  for  the  sound  may 
mean  that  Harry  Denver  is  no  more." 

"Then  he  will  have  the  other  ofBcer  to 
fight,"  said  Ethel,  with  firm  lips,  recollect- 
ing the  words  of  Harding. 

"They  must  not,  shall  not  fight.  I  say 
they  shall  not !"  cried  Mildred  with  a  sudden 
vehemence. 

Before  Ethel  could  divine  her  companion's 
intention,  the  latter  had  broken  away  from 
the  lightly  resting  hand  on  her  arm  and  was 
speeding  in  the  direction  of  the  egress  to  the 
garden. 

"Mildred — Miss  DeKay— come  back!  Do 
not  interfere!"  called  Ethel,  in  pursuit. 

But  the  vice  was  uiilieeded. 

Ouswiftly  went  Mildred. 

She  disai)peared  amid  the  dense  shadows 
of  tlie  garden. 

Reacliiiig  tlie  graveled  walk,  Ethel  paused 
and  glanced  about  her  for  some  sign  of  the 
other. 

And  while  she  thus  stood,  there  came  to 
her  ears  the  sound  of  a  double  report,  as  of 
two  revolvers  fired  simultaneously. 

Mingling  iu  the  explosion  was  a  sharp 
scream  from  a  woman's  startled  lips. 


Lieutenant  Vane  Artwell  led  the  way  with 
long  and  angry  strides  along  the  garden  path 
he  had  so  often  trod  before  his  annoyances 
had  resulted  in  the  loss  of  the  beautiful  Mil- 
dred's friendship. 

Eager  enough  was  he  for  the  battle  with 
this  Y'aiikee  rival  to  whom  the  girl  had 
clung  in  a  way  that  unmistakably  showed 
her  love. 

"  I  shall  kill  him  !"  he  ground,  inaudibly, 
between  his  gnashins  teeth,  and  with  one 
fisttiu'lit  ~hut  asiflicfelt  himself  throttling 
the  man   he  hatcil  witli  all  the  intense  fire  of 

As  I  hey  pioL'icsscd  toward  a  suitable  spot 
for  tlie  encounter,  Will  Harding  said  : 

"  How  will  you  arrange,  gentlemen  ?  Shall 
you  make  jour  own  signs  and  words,  or  shall 
I  take  that  office?" 

Now,  tiiniiL'h  Artwell  cherished  such  hate 
and  ili-pi-.  11!.  Ill  lor  anyliody  or  anything 
we:,iiic:    ;;,.  i    liliic,  he  had    seen  suf- 

ficici:'  -  .1    these   twoyoungoffi- 

cers  to  -i!  -■  V  i,ic!  ihat  they  were"honorable 
men. 

Til.- keen  eye  of  the  duelist  could  not  m 
astray  in  tiiat  little  piece  of  perception.        * 

His  voice  was  gruff  but  candid,  as  he  re- 
plied : 

"  I  am  willing  to  leave  the  word  with  you, 
sir— Ihat  is,  it  you  know  aiiythingaboutsuch 
aflaire.  And  I  warn  you,"  to  Denver.  "  that 
it  is  not  the  first  or  the  second  time  I  have 
faced  powder  for  honor's  sake;  I  shall  as- 
suredly wing  you." 

"  Perhaps,"  Denvc-  returned,  compos- 
edly. 

He  was  not  to  be  ruffled  by  any  such  bra- 
vado. 

He  -well  knew  the  extreme  importance  of 
retaining  his  mental  equipoise  on  an  occa- 
sion ot  this  serious  character. 

And  be  inquired  : 

"You  aie  ainie'd,  I  presume  ?  You  failed 
to  answer  that  question  iu  the  parlor." 

"I  :ini  aimed  v.itli  a  revolver  that  has 
emptied  its  Imllets  into  the  breasts  of  Yan- 
kees lief  ore  this  night,  and  can  do  it  again, 
as  you  will  find." 

"If  you  are  as  good  a  shot  as  you  are  val- 
iant with   the  mouth,  probably  it  may  be 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


remark  of 


so,    was  the  sharo,  thou 
Captain  Deuver. 

••  You  shall  soon  hare  the  proof," 

"Here,  I  think,  is  a  good  place  for  your 
amusement,  gentlemen."'  Harding  said,  paus- 
ing at  the  edge  of  a  eopse-like  shrubbery, 
where  a  faint  light  entered  over  the  stone 
wall. 

"  Yes.  this  suits  me.  It  does  not  require 
much  light  to  wing  a  Yankee."  boasted  Art- 
well. 

"  How  are  you  to  fight  ?  Let  me  hear  your 
propositions." 

"Heave  it  with  this  party,"  said  Denver, 
with  a  wave  of  his  hand  toward  the  lieuten- 
ant. 

"  You  will  find  me  as  fair  as  I  am  danger- 
ous," Artwell  rejoined,  now  becoming  im- 
pressed with  the  coolness  of  his  prospective 
antagonist. 

After  a  moment's  silence,  he  added  : 

"I  propose  that  we  be  placed  thirty  paces 
apart,  with  backs  turued,  revolver  at  our 
sides  and  cocked.  This  gentleman  will  count 
off  the  words  one-two— three-j-flre!  Be- 
tween the  words  three  and  fire,  we  will  turn 
and  commence  lining,  advancing  as  we  flre, 
uniil  one  or  the  other  is  down." 

"How  many  chambers  has  your  revol- 
ver?" was  Denver's  quioK  question. 

"Six." 

"Good!  So  has  mine.  The  terms  are  agree- 
able.   Proceed." 

Harding  slowly  and  precisely  measured 
off  the  distance  and  placed  the  duelists. 

Then  taking  a  position  midway  and  suffi- 
ciently aside  to  be  out  of  range,  he  asked  : 


With  a  marked  resularity  Harding  then 
began  his  count. 

"  Oue— two— three— fi " 

The  word  Are  was  dr.iwned  upon   his  lips. 
As  it  on   aspriii-y    pivot    D.-nrer  turned, 

of  those  snap  sl]ot/ihi(i  iu  altpr 'y,-ars  were 
to  make  Iihidps  umcuig  the  Western  knights 
of  the  pistol. 

Almost  blending  in  the  whip-like  report, 
Artwell  uttered  a  cry  and  jjitched  forward, 
though  his  own  weapon  had  sounded  so 
promptly  as  to  seem  the  instantaneous  echo 
of  the  other. 

On  the  wintered  sward  lay  the  Confeder- 
ate lieutenant. 

Harding  advanced  toward  him. 

As  he  took  the  step,  a  woman's  scream 
rung  up  in  the  garden  near,  and  Mildred 
came  running  forward. 

"He  is  killed!  Oh,  he  is  killed!"  she 
moaned. 

"Yes,  miss,  he  is  killed— not  the  one  you 
imagine,  however. 

Lieutenant  Artwell  lay  prone  and  still. 

It  had  been  a  wonderful  shot,  considering 
the  quickness  with  which  it  was  delivered. 

The  bullet  had  crashed  fairly  through  his 
brain. 

Though  scarcely  two  seconds  passed  be- 
fore Harding  was  kneeling  at  the  wounded 
man's  side,  life  was  e.xtinct. 

Mildred  would  know  no  more  of  those 
past  annoyances  from  the  fiery  and  ardent 
lieutenant. 

Denver  advanced,  with  the  calm  query  : 

"  How  is  it  with  him  ?" 

"Dead." 

At  sound  of  Denver's  voice,  Mildred  hur- 
ried to  his  side  and  grasped  him  by    the  arm. 

"  You  are  safe.    You  are  not  wounded?" 

"Not  a  scratch— thanks  to  a  kind  Prov- 
idence." 

"  Oh,  come  away  from  here." 

Harding  stepped  to  Den  ver's  side  and  whis- 
pered souii'tliiiig,  in  reply  to  which  the  lat- 
ler  meielv  iio,!(]i(i. 

Then  a-  ilaidiiur  made  off  rapidly  toward 
thegai(bii  uat.-,  JJtiiver  said  : 

"Come.  Miss  1).-Kay,  ray  friend  will  attend 
to  the  body  of  tliis  man,  audi  will  accom- 
pany you  ;  for  I  have  something  important 
to  say  to  you.  I  assure  you." 

He  was  very  quiet,  cool  as  if  nothing  had 
happened  to  disturl)  him  iu  tlie  least. 

And  they  moved  away  in  the  direction  of 
the  hou3e,'while  that  stVi'titied  and  motion- 
less form  lay  on  the  sward,  fast  growing 
-igid  iu  the  clammy  coldness  of  death. 

Half  way  to  the  house  they  encountered 


ed!" 

"  I  had  no  fears  for  the  safety  o£, Captain 
Deuver,"  Ethel  said,  as  she  joined  tfcem. 

Returning  to  the  parlor,  they  fouhd  Snow 
standing  in  the  doorway  with  white  eyeballs 
rolling. 

"Missy  Mild'ed !  Dey's  been  fightm'  of 
some  kin' in  deguyarden." 


"It  is  all  right.  Snow.    No  matter.    And 
Snow,  we  will  not  partake  of  tea  yet ;  ii 
be  in  a  little  while." 

With  a  sidelong  glance  at  the  captain,  the 
negro  withdrew. 

Having  met  and  known  Mildred  and  Ethel 
previously,  Denver  did  not  feel  himself 
position    where    too    much    formality 


requ 
view. 

"  We  are  private  here,"  she  said,  smiling. 
"  Ethel  is  the  same  to  me  as  a  sister  We 
have  become  that  much  attached  since  th. 
night  when  her  fathers  inn  was  burned 
down  on  the  slope  beyond  Falmouth— thi 
night  when  we  first  met  with  you,  you  may 
remember." 

Glancing  at  Ethel,  he  said,  half  inquir- 
ingly : 

"  Ah,  the  daughter  of  the  man  who  was 
such  a  determined  rebel?" 

"  Mv  lather's  heart  was  always,  and 
strongly,  with  the  South." 

"Then  I  offer  vou  my  sympathy  and  con- 
dolences. Miss  Cobbs.  For  of  course  you 
know  that  your  father  is  dead?" 

"Dead  !  " 

White  as  the  pallor  of  death  grew  her  face. 
She  had  all  this  interval  hoped  against  hope 
that  her  father  still  lived. 

The  sudden  announcement  from  the  Union 


cap 


1-  ,.nif 


"  Vt>,  thf  inn  i.uriif-il  down,  I  believe, 
whili-  iiiv  ii-i-'iiueiit  was  halted  near,  and 
viHir  faHier-,  il  i-  pn-dv  whII  known,  perish- 
ed 111  tii.-llaiiiH,-^. 

Elliel  ariise.     White  and  weak,  she  said  : 

They  looked  after  the  grieving  girl  in 
silent'sympathy. 

When"  alone,  Denver  began  the  task  that 
was  the  object  of  this  stolen  visit  to  the  De- 
Kav  mansion. 

""Miss  DeKay " 

"  Will  you  not  call  me  Mildred  ?" 

"  Certainly,  it  more  agreeable  to  you." 

The  dark  and  lustrous  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  him,  and  Denver  thought,  at  the  mo- 
ment, that  he  had  never  beheld  one  so  posi- 
tively beautiful. 

He  returned  her  earnest  gaze  for  a  second, 
while  the  blood  seemed  warming  within 
him. 

But  he  remembered  the  task— perhaps  to 
prove  a  very  unpleasant  one— and  controlled 
the  passionate  emotions  that  were  creeping 
upon  him. 

CHAPTER    XXV. 


"  Will  you  do  me  the  kindness,  Mildred,  to 
fully  consider  how  delicate  is  the  task  I  have 
before  me  as  an  honorable  man  and  forgive 
some  speeches  that  may,  perhaps,  under 
other  circumstances  appear  rude?" 

"  Of  course  1  will.  For  I  am  half  prepared 
for  what  is  to  come.  Proceed,  please.  And 
do  not  lorget  that  I  am  fully  aware  of  the 
peculiar  relations  we  bear  one  another 
through  a  fancy  of  our  fathers.  So,  be  per- 
fectly free." 
"With  that  kind  assurance,  I  will." 
After  a  slight  pause,  he  continued : 
"You  cannot  conceive,  Mildred,  what  a 
shock  it  was  to  me,  to  learn  of  my  father's 
action  iu  the  matter  of  his  indebtedness  to 
your  father.  Instantly  upon  gaiiiiiiir  that 
knowledsre,  I  exclaimed  to  liiin,  on  his  death 
bed,  that  I  would  hasten  to  make  full  resti- 
tution. This  proceeding  he  e.x.iteiliv  oli- 
jected  to.  Hesliowed  iiic  a  coiumuuiratiuii 
from  Arnold  l)eKay,  in  which  that  gentle- 
man oflVred  to  consider  the  indebtedness 
cancelled  if  I,  the  child,  would  fulfill  the 
contract  of  marriage  entered  into  between 
him  and  John  Denvei  for  the  children— 
yourself  and  me.  The  opening  of  the  war 
prevented  my  seeking  vou  as  eaiiv  as  I 
promised  my  dying  father  1  would,  and  you 


efore  t 


would  be  cheerfully  paid  on  yo'ur  demand. 
For  naturally  I  supposed  that  a  young  lady 
would  scarcely  arrive  at  the  age  you  had, 
without  forming  some  serious   heart  attach- 


ment; and  this  supposition  strengthened 
my  resolution  to  restore  to  you,  the  child  of 
Arnold  DeKay,  the  sum  which  was  right- 
fully yours  as  his  heir. 

"  After  the  meeting  of  last  month,  I  ascer- 
tained that  Miss  DeKay  of  Fredericksburg 
was  heart  free.  It  was  quite  an  accident, 
and  of  a  nature  that  makes  it  hardly  worth 
while  to  recount  here.  This  being  the  case, 
however,   I    formed   another  determination 

'■  Taidon  il!i'  jiil.i  1  uplion.  But  won't  you 
pleu^o  1(11  no-  lnl^v  \  ,,11  a.-certained  the  fact 
that  1  was    loail    fi..-     A  girl's    heart  is  a 

owner  cai,ii,.l'un,l'i,sra!HUt.  How  could  an 
outsider  lualo  s,,  b,,ld  an  assertion  then,  that 
Mildred  D.-Kay  was  lit-art  tree?" 

"I  will  ifll  vou.  Mv  informant  was  Bat- 
tery Bob.  I'crhaiis  you  will  recall  that  on 
one  occasion,  wliile  knowing  him  only  in  his 
disguise  as  a  cleinvinan,  you  confided  to  him 
the  secret  of  vour  life " 

"Never!"  she  burst  forth,  in  halt  sup- 
pressed astonishment. 

"  Ah,  but  you  are  mistaken." 

"I  have  not  the  slightest  recollection  of 
it." 

He  smiled. 

"It  occurred  on  that  day  when  Battery 
Bob  so  opportunely  arrived  here  at  your 
house,  to  save  you  from  possible  insult  from 
the  Confederate,  Lieutenant  Artwell.  He 
overheard  you  tell  .-irtwell  the  name  of  the 
man  ti,  whom  you  wcie  betrothed  and 
whom  y,,ii  had  iicv.-i-  .seen,  also  where  that 
mail  o,,iil,i  lie  loiind  in  Ilie  ranks  of  the  boys 
in  blue.  .\iid  lie  judged  by  your  words  that 
you  considered  yourself  bound  by  the  con- 
tract which  made  you  the  promised  bride  of 
Henry  Denver— at  least  until  Henry  Denver 
should  release  you." 

"  I  remember  now,"  she  murmured,  lowly, 
while  her  gaze  fell. 

Deuver  lesumed : 

"I  say  I  formed  another  determination 
after  entering  the  town.  That  resolution 
brings  me  here  to-night.  I  shall  obey  the 
request  of  my  father  so  far  as  to  say:  Mil- 
dred DeKay,  I  offer  you  my  hand  and  heart 
iu  marriage.  Will  you  accept  it?  If  not, 
then  you  must  accept  the  restoration  of  the 
money,  which  I  shall  always  feel  is  rightful- 
ly youis." 

As  he  spoke,  he  arose  from  his  seat  beside 
her  and  stood  with  right  hand  outstretched, 
gazing  at  her  with  perhaps  something  of  sus- 
pense in  his  face. 

As  he  uttered  the  words,  "hand  and  heart," 
Mildred's  glorious  eyes  raised  quickly  and 
met  his. 

"  You  say  you  offer  hand  and  heart.  Cap- 
tain Denver?" 


•'  I  do,  earnestly." 
"Then  I  will  givey 


you  as  much  as  you  of- 
fer me,"  she  said,  rising  also  and  placing  one 
of  her  warm,  dainty  hands  in  his  own,  while 
the  lustrous  orbs  sparkled  even  brighter. 
"I  accept  your  offer  of  marriage,  provided 
you  believe  sincerely  that  you  can  love  me 
without  the  consideration  of  the  contract 
which  has  thus  brought  us  strangely  to- 
gether." 

"Mildred,  I  do  love    on!" 

"And  I  have  loved  you,  Harry,  since  the 
first  night  we  met." 

Denver's  arm  was  around  the  b?auteous 
form ;  he  pressed  her  closely  to  his  breast 
and  imprinted  on  her  lips  the  seal  of  their 
mutual  admission. 

For  a  brief  space  silence  reigned  in  the 
parlor. 

To  be  broken  in  a  manner  that  happens 
frequently  for  such  little  scenes  of  bliss. 

"  Oh,  I  beg  pardon!" 

Will  Harding  had  stepped  in  from  the  ver- 
anda, pausing  and  bowing  with  the  apology, 
though  his  face  wore  a  pleased  look  at  the 
juvtiy  picture  of  love  upon  which  he  had 
iiuite  unintentionally  intruded. 

"  (  aiitaiu  Harding,"  said  Denver,  pleas- 
antlv.  "allow  me  to  introduce  to  you  my 
futii'iv  wif.^,  Miss  DeKay." 

■■  Miss  l),'Kay,  I  am  honored  in  the  privi- 
legf  ,.f  this  aii|iiaintauce,"  Harding  said, 
ait\  aiiiiiig  and    taking  the  hand  promptly 

""'Millli-e'd's'fa'o,.  «-as  radiant. 


Kthi  1  was  still  pale,  but  she  had  i 
ei  emotions  for  the  time  at  least,  and  had 
esolved  to  be  with  her  friend. 
Fresh  introductions  followed. 
Then,  at  Mildred's  invitation,all  proceeded 


20 


THE  WAR  LIBRARY. 


to  the  diuing-hall.  where,  to  tell  the  truth, 
Snow  hail  proved  hiinselt  a  host. 

For,  aiitieipatiu;;  that  now  his  young  mis- 
tress would  invite  the  Uuion  otfloersiutoa 
repast,  he  had  added  to  the  bountiful  spread 
found  there  until  the  most  fastidious  palate 
would  have  been  tempted  and  delighted. 

With  his  white  apron  switching  as  he  flew 
around  as  fast  as  big  age  would  permit,  he 
seated  the  guests  and  showed  them  that,  if 
he  was  old,  there  was  life  in  the  limbs,  and  a 
memory  of  olden  days  of  happy  slavery  still 
in  his  woolly  head. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  refreshment,  Mil- 
dred would  have  urged  that  her  visitors  re- 
main later.  ,  .        ,^  ^ 

But  Harding  took  it  upon  himself  to  say  : 

"  Really,  Miss  DeKay,  I  fear  it  would  be 
very  wrong  for  the  captain  to  linger  here. 
The  broken  companies  are  being  reorganized 
in  view  of  resuming  the  attack  upon  the 
Confederate  stronghold  to-morrow,  and  I 
have  been  assigned,  even  in  the  brief  space 
of  my  absence  from  the  garden,  to  another 
company.  Hardly  a  score  of  the  brave  fel- 
lows who  followed  Captain  Denver  into  bat- 
tle remain  alive— indeed,  it  is  a  miracle  that 
either  one  of  us  is  here  alive  to-night— and 
they  will  probably  be  absorbed  by  some 
other  one  of  the  decimated  companies  of  the 
shattered  regiment."         „      ,.         .       .   ,  ^ 

"My  friend.  Captain  Harding,  is  right, 
Mildred.  Much  as  I  would  wish  to  remain 
with  you,  I  cannot  be  absent  from  the  rem- 
nant of  my  comoauy." 

"  But  you  will  return  to  me  at  earliest  op- 
portunity, Harry  f"  ^   ^ 

"  Of  that  you  may  be  sure.  But  remem- 
ber, a  soldier  cannot  govern  his  time  or 
place  in  the  slightest  manner  when  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy.  If  I  live  1  shall  see  you 
soon  again,  I  fondly  hope." 

"If   you    live!     Oh,   do    not  talk  in   that 

"  Let  us  not  anticipate  trouble,  Mildred. 
Farewell,  and  may  Heaven  guard  you." 

"He;iviMi  watcli  over  you,  dear  Harry," 
shebr,-aili.-,l,.-,un.'stly. 

And  wliile  Hanliiig  judiciously  turned  his 
back,  Icudini?  F.ihrl  aside  by  some  common- 
place ruiuurk,  these  singularly  destined 
lovers  erahiaced  fervently,  aud  there  was 
just  the  slightest  perceptible  sound  of  a 
quiet  kiss  in  the  air  of  the  illuminated 
parlor.  ,    !,_   .    J 

Then  the  two  ofBcers  took  their  departure. 
They  went  by  way  of  the  garden,  and 
though  there  would  now  have  seemed  to  be 
uo  danger  in  opening  the  house,  Mildred 
deemed  it  wiser  to  have  it  retain  its  appear- 
ance of  being  unoccupied  until  there  was  a 
more  decisive  knowledge  of  the  result  of  the 
bloody  battle.  ,,  ,,    j 

The  dead  body  of  Lieutenant  Artwell  had 
been  removed,  and  was  being  buried  with 
the  many  who  were  being  hastily  thrown 
into  rude  graves  on  that  night,  his  citizen's 
garb  preserving  him  from  recognition  as  a 
Confederate.  ,  ,  ^ 

"I  love  him!  I  love  him!"  burst  from 
Mildred,  when  alone  with  Ethel  in  the  pri 
vacv  of  her  boudoir. 

"  I  can  liardly  wonder  at  it.  Captain  Den- 
ver is  a  brave  and  noble  mau,  Mildred." 

"It  seemed  to  me  that  all  was  over  in  too 
short  a  time." 

"  What  was  over?" 
"His  wooing." 

"  He  came  then  as  a  ardent  wooer  'i 
"  In  a  measure,  yes.  I  saw — or  believe  I 
saw— that  he  loved  me;  and  I— my  whole 
heart  has  been  going  out  to  him,  Ethel,  the 
more  I  have  thought  about  him,  sin<'e  your 
hint  that  the  yoimg  Union  officer  we  met 
that  night  might  be  the  very  man  I  was 
searching  for.  Yes,  I  love  Harry  Denver. 
Perhaps  I  was  too  precipitate- too  quick  in 
accepting  the  heart  and  hand  he  offered  me. 
But  I  love  him,  I  love  him  !" 

On  the  face  of  the  beautiful  heiress  there 
was  a  look  that  told  well  the  abundance  of 
iov  that  had  come  into  her  heart  since  the 
moment  when  handsome  Harry  Denver 
asked  her  to  be  his  bride. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE    DAY   AFTER   THE   SLAUGHTER. 

On  their  way  toward  camp  Denver  aud 
Harding  were  met  by  a  man  gliding  swiftly 
througli  the  gloom,  who  hailed : 

"Hello,  captains,  two!     Whither  away  ?" 

"  Battery  Bob,  is  that  you  ?" 

"  What's  left  of  me,  after  this  little  affair 

Between  Denver  and  the  famous  spy  there 
had  grown  up  quite  an  intimacy  since  the 
night  when  Ethel  and  Mildred  had  reached 
the  Union  lines. 


"I  have  just  come  from  the  DeKay  man- 
sion," Denver  said. 

"So?    Why    lam  bound  for  there  now. 

"And  perhaps  you  will  And  one  there  you 
are  seeking,  unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken." 

"  Ethel  Cobbs— is  she  there?" 

The  inquiry  came  eagerly  from  the  lips  of 

He  had  not  seen  Ethel  since  the  hour  when 
he  left  her  and  Mildred  together  on  the 
heights  to  the  north  of  the  Rappahannock. 

"Yes,  she  is  there." 

"  I  am  glad  of  that " 

"But  excuse  us,  dear  fellow  ;  we  are  has- 
tening to  our  regiment— what  is  left  of  it, 

With'  which  they  separated— Battery  Bob 
to  seek  his  betrothed  at  the  DeKay  mansion 
where  he  suspected  her  to  be. 

A  murmur  was  partly  audible  within  that 
vast  concourse  of  soldiery  that  now  held  the 
town  of  Fredericksburg  after  the  carnage  of 
the  day. 

General  Burnside  had  comedown  from  his 
headquarters  as  be  learned  in  quick  succes- 
sion of  the  defeats  and  the  slaughter  into 
which  his  strange  but  brilliant  plans  had 
cast  the  army;  around  him  were  assembled 
the  ofhceis,  who,  like  the  weary  men,  were 
losing  conlidence  in  their  leader.  ^.  ,  ^     ^ 

It  was  an  e.xcited  council,  in  which  heads 
more  evenly  balanced  than  that  of  the  so  far 
whippeu  general,  urged  the  recrossing  of  the 
river  before  more  thousands  of  the  brave 
boys  in  blue  should  full  a  sacrifice  in  a  u.seless 
attempt  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  those 
impregnable  crests  that  stretched  their  can- 
non-yawning line  for  miles. 

Little  sleep  came  that  night  for  leaders  or 

The  morning  drew  on  apace,  while  the 
soldiery  waited  on  arms  in  an  almost  breath- 
less anticipation  of  a  renewal  of  the  terrible 
scenes  through  which  they  had  passed  by  a 
miracle  while  their  comrades  lay  piled 
around  in  ghastly  heaps. 

Hours  passed  slowly  and  fraught  with  an 
ordeal  of  suspense  that  only  the  soldier  on 
the  bloody  battlefleld*  can  comprehend,  es- 
pecially as  they  may  be,  some  of  those  shat- 
tered regiments  within  sound  of  the  soul 
shuddering  shrieks  that  rise  from  the  distant 
field,  or  from  the  improvised  hospital  where 
the  merciless  knives  of  the  surgeons  are  at 
the  after  work  of  severing  mangled  limbs  or 
sewing  up  great  gashes  in  the  bodies  of  the 
cannons' victims. 

A  wonderful  change  had  come  over  the 
little  town  in  that  short  time. 

People  were  shrinking  in  their  cellars;  the 
streel-i  vave  for  the  presence  of  the  Federal 
-oMifi'v,  UH.viiiL'  h'lr  and  there  in  weary 
iiitiul  '  wti  I-  ih  -1-1  Ifl  :  and  at  various  points 
ifiicil'  ihi'iuiiix  'it  ih.'  buildings  that  had 
lailcii  ill  It-.ceailv  ln.inbardment  from  Staf- 
ford Hights.  '  ^    ^, 

When  morning  came,  it  found  the  two 
leaders,  chiefs  of  two  brave  hosts  facing  one 
another  from  across  the  bloody  field- one 
hesitating  to  advance  upon  the  heights  that 
could  vomit  such  tiiry  and  death,  the  other, 
unaware  of  the  actual  losses  of  the  Union- 
i^ti  priterriiig  to  remain  in  that  position 
which  the  direful  panorama  of  the  previous 
day  had  shown  him  to  be  a  very  Gibraliar, 
far  safer  than  would  be  the  plau  of  a  retali- 
ative  charge  down  upon  the  gory  plain  be- 
low. 
The  day  grew. 

The  hours  passed,  and  still  there  came  not 
the  expected  orders  that  would  once  more 
hurl  the  bleeding  regiments  into  the  vortex 
of  detitiuctiou.  . 

Tlieii,  toward  noon,  a  murmur  gained 
bivatii  alou"- the  lines  for  miles,  a  murmur 
that  M-nt  ii|i  at  times  the  name  of  General 
Suimier,  M  111  It  up  with  a  cheer  at  some 
points,  where  even  the  commanders  were 
slow  in  catching  its  meaning. 

News  flies  faster  among  the  regiments  on 
the  battle  plain  than  one  might  suppose. 

On  this  day  the  boys  learned  that  to  brave 
Suiun.-r  Ibey  owed  that  surprising  delay  in 
thr  cxiLM  tei'l  eriler  which  could  have  only 
iiH'iKi  ilic  1 1-11.1.  riiif.'  up  uselessly  of  more 
li\ .-;    111.'  i-ti..l.liiig  nt  more  precious  blood. 

N.I  i-.iwai'.ls  were  they,  these  tired  and  dis- 
heartened troops. 

But  the  simplest  private  may  see,  after 
such  an  experience  as  the  army  of  the  Poto- 
mac had  had  then  and  on  other  fields,  that 
they  are  yielding  up  themselves  to  slaughter 
with  no  outcome  but  defeat,  no  comforting 
assurance  in  their  last  moments  that  their 
lives  have  not  been  given  in  vain.  . 

To  the  voice  of  Sumner,  raised  nobly  m 
protest  against  a  further  sacrifice,  they 
owed  the  respite  which  came  and  lasted 
through  the  hours  of  that  day  aud  into  the 
night  again,  thqugh  they  still  rested  on  their 


arms,  not  knowing  how  soon  the  bugles 
might  sound  them  "  in  "  or  their  equally  dis- 
heartened ofBcers  command  and  lead  them 
up  to  the  mark  of  doom. 

Some  of  the  citizens,  emboldened  by  ru- 
mors that  the  Yankee  army  had  been  so 
badly  whipped  they  would  not  remain  long 
on  that  side  of  the  Rappahannock,  came 
forth,  and  others  opened  their  houses  as  if 
in  no  dread  of  this  l)liie-clad  foe  whom  they 
hated  as  intensely  as  those  marshaled  forces 
did  who  waited  on  the  distant  crests. 

Undersuch  circumstances  it  was  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  there  were  occasional 
scenes  of  violence  committed  by  the  boys  in 
blue,  hated  as  they  were  by  the  recent  strife 
and  galled  by  the  semblance  of  defeat. 

And  one  of  these  scenes  happened  ai  the 
mansion  of  Mildred  DeKay,  where  the  young 
heiress  had  thrown  open  her  house,  declin- 
ing to  accept  the  the., ly  that  the  Federal 
troops  must  .KISS  hack  over  the  river,  and 
astonishing  her  neighbors  by  placing  over 
the  doorway  a  pair  of  small  lla;;s  ol  silken 
stars  and  stripes. 

"  I  fear  you  have  acted  a  little  unwisely, 
Mildred,"  was  Ethel's  opinion,  in  reference 
to  this  display. 

"  And  why.  pray?  Are  not  the  troops  of 
the  North  in  full  possession  of  Fredericks- 
burg?" 

"  True,  for  the  present " 

"  And  I  am  sure  they  will  not  retreat  from 
it,"  the  Southern  girl  broke  in,  impulsively. 

"  Be  not  too  sure.  The  losses  of  thousands, 
sustained  by  the  men  of  the  North,  may 
mean  a  retreat." 

"  I  will  not  believe  it.  ' 

Ethel    regarded    her    companion    iiiquisi- 

"  You  are  a  strange  girl,  Mildred." 

"In  what  way?" 

"That  you,  who  were  born  on  the  sacred 
soil  of  Virginia,  should  throw  all  your  sym- 
pathies in  the  direction  of  those  who  come 
from  a  clime   hated   by  your  relatives  and 


friends. 


;h  from  an- 
'  added,  ad- 
o  whom  the 


And  in  that,  do  I  di 
other  whom  I  love  deai 
vancing  and  embraciiii: 
closing  remark  was  applied. 

"  But  I  am  the  child  of  the  hills ;  my  whole 
spirit  might  naturally  follow  where  my 
heart  is  captive.    In  loving  Battery    Bob  I 

placed  in  him  my  very  altar " 

"  And  I,"  for  a  second  time  interrupted 
Mildred,  "  have  done  the  same  with  Captain 
Denver.  He  seems  to  lie  ;is  gentle  as  a  child, 
honorable,  no  woman  can  doubt,  brave,  as 
witness  his  coolness  in  calling  to  account  the 
man  who  was  growing  to  be  the  bane  of  my 
life." 
Mildred  half  paused  in  her  speech. 
For  at  that  instant,  upon  the)  air  of  the 
night  rose  a  strange  sound  of  men's  voices. 

Mildred    stepped  to  the  window-curtains 
and  peered  forth. 
"Oh,  Elhel!" 
"What  is  it?" 

"  There's  a  crowd  of  men  on  the  pavement 
right  before  the  house;  they  appear  to  be 
Federals." 
Ethel  reached  the  other's  side. 
As  the  curtains  were  drawn  a  little  further 
apart,  the  two  girls  were  partly  revealed  to 
those  below,  who  seemed  to  be  wrangling 
about  something  concerning  the  mansion. 

One  of  the  men  raised  and  sh3ok  his  list  at 
the  window  and  those  behind  the  panes, 
while  his  voice  arose  above  those  of  his  com- 
panions, saying:  , 

"  Ya-as,  you  rebs  in  thar,  you  think  you 
kin  hoodwinkusby  that  pair  of  fiags  a  hang- 
in' over  yer  door.  But  if  you're  the  true 
blue  you  make  out  to  be,  we'll  soon  know. 
Come  on,  boys,  inter  the  shebang,  an'  lets 

see  it  they'll  treat  1 *-..—   v.*  *« 

be  treated." 
To  this  there  was  evi 
And  the  cause  of  the  wraii::lnis  was  that 
some  were  for  enteri-ii;  ami , mill in.ii  the  man- 
sion on  the  theory  that  tl).'  •jispliiy  of  the 
flags  was  but  a  sham,  whil..  .itlurs.  more 
level  headed,  argued  against  such  a  proceed- 
ing on  the  foreseeing  that  they  might  be  call- 
ed to  stern  account  by  their  officers. 

The  riotous  element  prevailed,  however, 
and  presently  the  watching  ciiis  saw  a  halt 
dozen  of  them  ascend  the  steps  and  begin  a 
hammering  on  the  great  door. 

At  the  same  instant  Snow  came  with  a 
rap  at  the  door  of  the  chamber. 

His  eyeballs  were  rolling  m  considerable 
fright  as  he  announced   the  disturbance  be- 

Mildred  could  not   conceal    that   she  was 

But  tlie  child  of  the  hills,  brave  and  lovely 
Ethel,  took  it  upon  herself  to  say  : 
"Let  them  in,  Snow— every  one. 


1  as  we  fellers  ought 
iectiou. 


Hasten 


THE  WAR  IIBRARY. 


21 


before  they  batter  down  and  ruin  the  door.' 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

ETHEL  AT    BAY   AGAIN. 

Wo  have  seen  the  extraordinary  courage 
possessed  by  Etliel  Cobbs  when  she  met  and 
hailed  the  troopers  on, the  stairway  of  her 
father's  inu. 

Anotheropportunity  seemed  to  be  at  hand, 
in  whioh  she  might  again  give  an  exhibition 
of  nerve. 

She  observed  the  half  startled  hesitation 
of  her  companion,  and  uttered  calmly  those 
words,  which  caused  the  negro's  eyes  to  roll 
still  wider,  aud  Mildred  to  exclaim  : 

"  Ethel !— no,  you  surely  would  not  advise 
admitting  those  brawlers  below  f" 

"  Tou  will  fled  that  you  cannot  keep  them 
out.    Let  them  in,  say  I,  and  1  will  attend 
to  them." 
"You?" 

"  Why,  yes.  Do  you  suppose  I  fear  a  few 
halt  drunken  wretches  such  as  they  are? 
And  if  they  press  me  too  hard,  I  will  show 
them  how  a  Virginia  girl  can  use  the  pis- 
tol." 
And  again  to  Suow  she  said  : 
"  Hurry  down  and  admit  them.  1  will  at- 
tend to  the  rest.  Do  not  be  alarmed.  I  have 
dealt  with  headstrong  men  liefore." 

Mildred  made  no  further  objection. 
1    There  was  something  in  the  calm  demean- 
or, the  starry  eyes  of  the  child  of  the  hills 
that  inspired  a  quick  confidence. 

With  a  wave  of  her  hand,  she  siguifled  to 
Suow  that  Ethel's  order  should  be  obeyed. 

•'  What  do  j'ou  intend  to  do  when  they 
have  entered  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Meet  them  face  to  face,"  was  the  firm 
response.  "  Come,  if  you  wish  to  see  my  ac- 
tion." 

In  silence  and  wonderment,  Mildred  fol- 
iowed  the  erect  aud  coiittdeut  girl  from  the 
room,  and  they  descended  the  stairs  a  little 
way  in  the  rear  of  Snow. 

I.  "  !  warned  you  that  you  wereaoting  rather 
UUH'.ifiely  ill  plaeiiig  those  flags  at  the  front 
door.  2"1J'>:l'  n"?"  believe  it  to  be  iv  sham  ; 
ana  wer?  they  Confeder.^fes,  you  would 
have  eveu  iilOJ«  trouble  than  is  now   brew- 


The  clamor  at  the  tJoof  gfffw  Jouder. 

The  suspicious  solditti*  found  the  great 
panels  not  so  easily  battered  down  as  they 
had  expected. 

Some  had  brought  heavy  stones  from  the 
street  and  were  banging  furiously  at  the 
stout  oak,  while  the  shouts  of  all,  in  mingled 
ourses,  was  sufhcient  to  have  startled  the 
nerves  of  a  person  less  brave  than  Ethel 
Cobbs. 

"Open  the  door,'  she  commanded,  to 
.as  the  negro,  with  hands  on  the  huge 


theoucside.  ,        ,    ,        ^    ^ 

Suow  gave  the  bolt  a  wrench  and  then  fled 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  door  as  it  swung 
open  and  the  soldiers  came  pitching  inward, 
•  arith  a  shout  of  triumph. 

"You  can't  fool  us  with  no  such  shenani- 
•.gan  as  them  flags!"  cried  the  foremost,  as  he 
made  toward  the  stairs. 

vAnd  the  rough  voice  of  another  : 

'J  I'll  bet  it's  a  nest  of  secessionists,  an'  the 
-  soQUer  we  clean  it  out  the  better." 

•,'Ealt!"  rung  a  sharp  command. 

)Oa}y  a  girl's  voice  was  that,  but  its  accent 
checked  the  jostling  crowd  of  men  suddenly, 
and  they  stared  at  her  as  it  astounded  by  her 
temerity. 

Then: 

•  VWal,  now,  look  there.    Wot  a  beauty  she 
is,  boys;  an' the  leefle  gal  says  as  how   we 
rausi  halt,"  and  the  rufUan  ended  his  speech 
in  a  coarse  guffaw. 
•   "  Wl)9t  do  you  want?"  demanded  Ethel. 

"  Wal,  we  wants  for  to  see  just  wot  kind  of 
a  shebang  this  here  is.  'Cause  we  don't  lake 
no  stock  in  them  flags  wot  you've  got  a 
hangin'  out  there ;  it's  humbug,  an'  we  know 
it " 

"Leave  this  house!" 

'■'Wot!" 

The  leader,  threw  back  his  head  and  gaped 
at  her,  as  if  he  was  not  sure  of  having  heard 
aright. 

"  Leave  this  bouse,  instantly,  or  I  warn 
you,  you  will  wish    you  had  never  entered 

"Look  here,  gal,"  at  the  same  time  ad- 
vancing upbn  tljie  fair  girl  who  stood  a  few 
steps  up  on  the, staircase. 


into  her   hand,  ready  cocked  aud    leveled 

steadily  at  the. breast  of  the  man. 
"Say,  wot  do  you  mean,  anyhow?" 
"I,  me^H  that.I  shall  give  you  and  your 


crew  just  one  minute  to  get  out  of  this 
house.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  I  shall 
commence  firing.  I  aui  a  pretty  good  shot, 
as  you  will  flnil;  and  even  if  I  was  not  I 
guess  my  six  bullets  will  find  some  mark  in 
a  crowd  of  men  jammed  as  closely  as  you 
are." 

There  were  a  few  who  held  the  same  opin- 
ion, and  evinced  it  by  promptly  skulking  to- 
ward the  door. 

In  reality  they  feared  the  girl  more  than 
they  would  a  man,  because  they  realized 
that  she  felt  herself  outraged  by  such  an  in- 
trusion, and  would  most  assuredly  empty 
her  revolver  into  their  midst 

"I  ain't  takiu' no  gal's  pills  in  mine  just 
about  now,"  uttered  one,  as  he  drew  away 
toward  the  door. 

"Nor  me,  neither,"  chimed  another  wary 
fellow,  with  a  sidelong  glance  at  the  gleam- 
ing  tube   that    was  pointed  so  directly  at 
them. 
But  the  leader  did  not  flinch. 
He  was  one  of  these  bulldog  fellows  some- 
times  found   in   armies,  who  may  have   a 
record  for  bravery   which  is  in  realily  no 
more  than  an  ignorant  disregard  for  danger. 
"Hanged  if  I'll  be    stopped  by  a  gal ;  you 
hear  me?" 
"Back,  sir!    Not  one  step  more,   on  your 

life " 

"Bah!" 

He  made  toward  her  briskly,  with  one 
baud  halt  raised,  as  if  he  would  boldly  snatch 
the  weapon  from  the  girl's  grasp. 

As  he  placed  one  boot  on  the  lower  step 
there  was  a  flash  of  Are,  a  sharp  report,  and 
— thuck! 

The  bully  thiew  his  arms  into  the  air  and 
reeled  backward. 

"Come  on,  scoundrels!  "  defied  Ethel,  as 
the  man  fell.  "I  promised  you  that  you 
would  find  me  a  good  and  a  prompt  shot. 
Who  is  next?" 

A  growl  of  rage  went  up  as  they  saw  their 
oomrade  fall,  evidently  dead,  before  the 
brave  girl. 

But  the  hot  reception  showed  them  that 
she  would  prove  a  Tartar  to  deal  with  :  some 
bnd  already  left  the  house  and  sought  a  safe 
place  of  observation  around  the  massive 
jamb;  and  the  rest,  with  a  final  glance  at 
the  dead  body  of  their  leader,  hastened  out. 
To  expedite  their  departure,  Ethel  fired 
again,  but  the  barrel  of  her  weapon  was 
raised  in  the  air  intentionally. 

Believing  that  she  was  about  to  keep  up  a 
regular  fusilade,  their  pace  quickened  to  a 
scrambling  run,  and  before  the  minute  had 
fully  expired  the  last  man  of  the  cowardly 
gang  was  outside. 

Here,  however,  they  met  with  another  re- 
ception that  was  unexpected  and  summary. 
A  patrol  had  halted  on  the  pavement. 
A  commanding  voice  said  : 
"  Secure  those  men !" 
The  voice  of  Captain  Denver. 
Mildred  recognized  it  at  once  and  ran  past 
Ethel  toward  the  door,  just  as  the  captain 
entered,  with  the  inquiry  : 

"What  is  going  on  here?    Mildred,  what 
has  happened  ?" 
A  few  words  told  all. 

Immediately  turning  to  the  patrol,  he  or- 
dered : 

"Keep  those  fellows  fast;  I  want  to  have 
them  dealt  with." 

While  he  was  exchanging  a  few  more  words 
with  Mildred,  one  of  his  men  came  to  the 
door,  saying: 
"  Captain,  this  house  is  afire." 
And  their  attention  thus  called  to  it,  all 
then  detected  a  smell  of  smoke  ascending 
from  some  unknown  source. 

A  hurried  investigation  revealed  that  it 
came  from  the  veranda  at  the  rear. 

Someone  of  the  rowdy  gang  that  had 
clamored  for  admittance  shortly  before,  had 
gone  around  to  the  rear.  Effecting  an  en- 
trance, he  had  witnessed  the  checking  of  his 
comrades  by  the  brave  Ethel,  and  in  chagrin 
and  maliciousness,  had,  with  the  aid  of  a 
few  cartridges  and  a  match,  ignited  the  frail 
frame-work  of  the  veranda,  which  hart 
burned  up  to  too  great  headway  to  be  extin- 
guished when  discovered  at  last. 

"  Nothing  can  save  the  house,"  Denver 
said.  "If  you  have  anything  to  save,  Mil- 
dred, you  had  best  hurry  about  it  and  get 
away  from  the  premises." 

Calling  in  three  of  his  men,  while  the  rest 
remained  guarding  the  arrested  depredators, 
all  went  to  work  wiih  a  will  to  rescue  from 
the  fast  creeping  flames  whatever  Mildred 
indicated  as  worthy  of  preservation. 

By  the  time  the  lew  goods  were  removed 
to  a  safe  spot,  the  tongues  of  fire  had  com- 
municated to  the  main  portion  of  the  liuild- 
ing,  and  the  thick   smoke  began  to  roll  out 


from  the  upper  windows  in  suffocating  bil. 

At  this  juncture  there  was  a  new-comer  ou 
the  scene. 

A  Union  officer,  with  the  straps  ou  his 
shoulder  to  indiiate  him  to  be  a  lieutenant  of 
artillery. 

Battery  Bob. 

He  joined  the  girls,  and  was  at  first  unob- 
served by  Denver,  who  was  busy  giving  in- 
structions to  the  sergeant  of  the  patrol. 

The  sergeant  started  away  with  his  prison- 
ers, and  Denver  turned,  to  be  surprised  by 
seeing  the  spy  in  this  new  guise  in  oonversa^ 
tion  with  the  two. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

PEACE  AT  LAST. 

"Hello,  Battery  Bob!  what's  this?"  with 
a  smiling  glance  at  the  uniformed  spy.  "  An- 
other of  your  disguises  ?" 

"  Oh,  no,  captain,  it  isn't  a  disguise  at  all. 
I  have  held  my  commission  in  the  artillery 
all  along;  but  my  work  has  been  of  the 
character  you  know  of,  for  there  I  could  do 
even  more  good.  But  since  my  mission  as  a 
spy  only  extended  from  the  Autietam  to 
Fredericksburg,  a  locality  I  knew  like  a 
book,  I  have  returned  to  my  post  among  the 

Denver  grasped  his  hand  warmly. 
The  burning  house  did  not  attract  much 
attention. 

The  citizens  of  the  town  had  seen  too 
much  of  flames  among  their  dwellings  since 
the  Union  army  appeared  on  the  banks  of 
the  Rappahannock  to  be  excited  over  this 
small  conflagration,  and  the  Federal  soldiery 
was  held  closely  to  their  camps  on  this  night, 
when  it  was  common  rumor  that  Burnside 
had  lesolved  to  cross  back  over  the  river, 
where  he  could  plant  his  guns  and  still  men- 
ace the  town  and  adjacent  plains. 

The  next  question  was  what  to  do  with  the 
girls? 

Battery  Bob  solved  this  by  the  suggestion 
that  they  proceed  at  once  toward  the  north, 
accompanied  by  Suow ;  and  when  the  plan 
was  fully  discussed,  Ross,  who  had  leave  for 
a  short  time,  started  to  conduct  them  to  the 
river,  where  they  were  soon  being  ferried 

Clouds  were  gathering  fast  in  the  heavens. 
Ross  urged  that  they  lose  no  time  in  gaiuiiig 
a  safe  shelter  ere  the  coming  storm  broke 
upon  them. 

On  the  north  bank  of  the  stream  he  pro- 
cured horses  for  the  two  girls  and  the  faith- 
ful negro,  and  after  an  afl'ectiouate  parting 
with  Ethel  and  a  godspeed  for  Mildred,  he 
stood  for  a  long  time  watching  their  reced- 
ing forms  on  the  road  leading  to  Falmou" 

"I  cannot  go  on  without  first  pausing  to 
take  a  look  at  the  ruins  at  my  old  home  '" 
Ethel  said,  as  they  drew  near  the  slope  upon 
which  she  had  played  in  childhood. 

"  But  it  can  ouly  result  in  increasing  your 
sadness,"  Mildred  demurred.  "And  see — 
the  storm  will  soon  come,  and  we  have 
to  ride  before  we  can  shelter  ourselves  and 
our  horses." 

But  Ethel  was  firm. 

Mildred  could  not  continue  her  objections, 
and  the  trio  presently  emerged  upon  the  '  " 
fork  of  the  road  and  ascended  to  the  ruins  of 
Cobbs'  Rest. 

Black  aud  foreboding  were  those  ruin 
now  ;  and  the  tears  involuntarily  came  int 
Ethel's  eyes  as  she  thought  of  the  charred 
remains  ol  one  who  hart  always  been  a  kind 
father  to  her,  now  lying  unrecognizable 
amid  the  debris. 

As  they  were  about  to  move  away  at  last, 
thev  were  arrested  by  a  wbiuiug  sound  near 

by- 

"  Ah,  a  dog,"  Mildred  exclaimed,  with  a 
shudder. 

"  And  I  think  I  know  that  whine,"  said 
Ethel. 

Then  she  called,  coaxiugly  ; 

"Durga!   Durga!" 

Out  from  the  gloom  toward  them  slowly 
came  the  blind  hound. 

Slie  leaned  down  from  her  saddleand  gently 
stroked  the  baik  of  the  beast  with  the  handle 
of  her  riding  whip;  and  Durga  seemed  to  be 
overjoyed,  as  he  recognized  the  voice  of  the 
one  who  had  first  been  his  benefactor  after 
the  encounter  which  resulted  in  the  loss  o£ 
his  eyes. 

"Hark!     Some  one  is  coming  !" 

Hoofstrokes  sounded  on  the  road  a  short 
distance  below. 

A  rider  was  approaching  the  spot   of  the 


"  Let  us  fly,"  Mildred  urged. 
"  No,  I  wish  to  see  who  it  may 
They    wheeled    their    horses    t 


52 


THE  WAE,  LIBRARY. 


Durga  uttered  a  low  growl  and 
the  ael  of  the  girls,  while  his  grea 


ilt !      Who    are   you  ? 


"  Is  that  you,  charmiug  Miss  Ethel  ?" 

"  Yes,  it  is  I,  Rory  Bolt.    What  brings  you 

"  To  see  your  father,  lair  Miss  Ethel,  and  a 
close  time  I  hare  had  of  it  coming  around 
the  Yauisee  pickets." 

■'You  will  not  see  my  father,  Rory  Bolt." 

*'  But  it  is  important." 

"Looli!" 

She  pointed  toward  the  ruins. 

"  Ell  !  Wby,  blast  it.  the  old  thing's  burnt 
down,  isn't  it  '!  But  I  must  see  j-our  fatber, 
all  tlH-suni..,  Miss  Kthel." 

"  M\  faihi-r  lu>.  ilead  and  charred,  in  the 
raiilst'.ii  iiM.-r  ruins,  sir.  And  as  it  is  impos- 
silplel..]-  viiii  Ti)  si-e  him,  you  may  as  well 
tuiu  about  and  make  your  way  back  to  the 
Confederate  lines,  if  you  are  smart  enough." 

"Oh,  your  father  is  dead,  you  say  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  And  vou  are  now  without  a  protector," 
coutinut-il  tliH  bUT  ly  lieutenant,  in  a  changed 


lady,  Mi>s  Ktlnl,  ami  il  i- n  laivijity  that  you 

out  an  aiichoiuij;  jilai  1-,  willmut  a  husband 
to  look  after  you,  now  that  your  old  father 
is  dead " 

"Sir!" 

■'  Yes,  you  hear  me,  I  guess,  Miss  Ethel.  I 
am  very  uuich  in  earnest.  I  am  in  love  with 
you  :  have  admired  you  ever  since  you  were 
hardly  bi;;frer  than  a  kitti-n.  But,  blast  it! 
luever  ihirtil  to  say  so  bi-fore,  because  that 
father  of  youis  was'w  iirsr  than  a  mad  blood- 
hound wThu  he  got  oM  a  rampage,  and  he 
would  have  f  anged  me  smartly  if  I  had  hint- 
ed at  the  affection  which  I  now  swear!  en- 
tertain for  you.  Don't  you  think  I  will 
make  a  very  good  protector,  charming  Miss 
Ethel." 

"  I  think  that  if  you  continue  this  insult  a 
moment  longer,  I  shall  bore  your  ugly  car- 
cass with  a  bullet,"  cried  Ethel,  sharply, 
and  drawing  her  revolver,  unseen,  as  she  be- 
gan to  anticipate  trouble  -with  the  monstrous 
rufBan. 

Bolt  gave  his  horse  a  touch,  and  drew 
nearer. 

"  Keep  back  there,"  warned  the  girl. 

"But  I  want  to  talk  with  you,  my  dear 
Miss  Ethel.  I  want  to  teil  to  you,  to  swear 
to  vuu,  that  1  love  you  more  than  any 
other ■' 

"Back,  sir!" 

"  Blast  it,  you  are  too  full  of  airs,  I  think." 

"  As  surely  as  you  advance  another  yard, 
as  surely  will  you  die!"  came  again  from  the 
comiiressfd  lips  of  the  girl,  as  she  cocked  the 
weapon  in  lit-r  band. 

But  tlo-pa.->ion  I  hat  Rory  Bolt  had  so  long 
heU-i  in  olio,  k  tliLnmh  fear  of  Ethel's  father, 
and  wliiih  heuow  boldly  avowed,  consumed 
him  bi'vond  all  contiol. 

He  i\wx  tho  >\niv  into  his  horse  and  made  a 
dash  i,.uar.l  li-r. 

Ju  the  same  instant  that  the  horRe  ]>ranced 
forward,  a  lai^c.  dark  and  heavy  lindy  shot 
through  theair  in  the  roui  so  of  an  arc  and 
straight  toward  the  ininintod  in;ni. 

The  hound  had  closol^   l..,,;i.a  ilio  rider. 

Ere  Bolt  could  realizo  jnsl  what  it  was 
that  came  toward  hun  through  the  air,  he 
was  struck  by  a  powerful  body,  and  a  set  of 
terribly  sharp  teeth  fastened  fairly  on  his 
throat. 

The  cry  of  dismay,  positive  terror,  that 
rose  to  his  lips,  was  choked  back  by  the 
powerful  gripe  of  those  relentless  jaws. 

The  blood  spurted  from  the  lacerated  flesh 
in  a  stream. 

He  snatched  one  of  his  revolvers  from  bis 
belt  and  fired  iuto  the  beast's  Ijody,  with  tho 
muzzle  pressing  the  hairy  side. 

It  was  a  home  shot,  thai  teai  in- Imllet  lliat 
enteivd  the  vitals  of  the  dng  ;  but  Iho  terii- 
ble  fangs  did  not  relax. 

Dmga  h.'ld  fast  while  he  died  there,  and 
the  woiL'hl  of  th.-  animal  dragged  Bolt  from 
his  sadillo  ill  a  heap  on  thegrouiid. 

The  dead  ilog  was  still  at  his  throat. 

Strive  as  he  might  and  did  with  all  his  gi- 
gantic strength  he  could  not  cast  off  that 
death  grip. 

Aud  even  if  he  could  have  succeeded  it  was 


too  late  to  save  himself— the  great  artery  of 
his  neck  was  completely  torn  asunder,  and 
he  reeled  over  in  his  gushing  blood  that  dyed 
the  road. 

Nor  couhl  the  doomed  man  utter  a  souud 
even  to  toll  of  tin-  a^oiiv  and  droad  that 
there  and  then  oaim-inlo  bodvand   >,hiI, 

Hiseyes.^h.zod,  il,o  ni^-ln  borano-  darkor 
before  his  vision  a>  llio  i vd  lido  tioivoil. 

The  girls  watched  the  huniblo  slrnggle  of 
man  and  beast  with  an  involuntary  shrink- 
ing. 

And  when  at  last  Bolt  ceased  his  vain 
struggle  and  lay  in  a  quivering  heap,  Ethel, 
the  more  nervy  of  the  two,  dismounted  and 
went  to  his  side. 

"He  is  dead,  and  so  is  Durga,"  she  said, 
presently. 

Theu  she  continued,  returning  back  to  her 

■■(ome,  Mildred— on!  On  to  the  clirae  of 
the  North!" 

They  wheeled  and  dashed  away  from  the 
spot,  turning  the  heads  of  their  horses  again 
northward  along  the  road  and  soon  leaving 
Falmouth  far  in  their  rear. 


Another  dav  came  and  found  the  armies  of 

the  North  anil  the  South  still  occupying  their 
lespooiivo  positions  on  the  plains  and  crests 

The  storm  of  that  winter's  day  broke  upon 
them  in  its  violence,  to  make  even  more 
drear  a  contemplation  of  the  ghastly  sur- 
rounding. 

It  WHS  now  the  turn  of  the  elements;  aud 
they  waged  fiercely  through  the  somber 
skies. 

When  nightfall  drew  down  again,  the 
mo.yement  of  retreat  began  along  the  Feder- 

Ba 


I  of  war  that  still 


dani-'oiand  oarn:i;:o ;  ;;nd  frequently  to  them 
caino  some  soant  intoliigence  of  the  daring 
young  aMillor_\'   lieiitenau6    and    the  brave 

Through'  the  many  'bal(le>  that  foil,, wed 
before  these  two  ea'llant  1,,\ ,  i  s  ,  ,,ii|,l  >,-,k 
their  sweethearts  at  the  N,,r;  h  ;il  in,,  i.\i,ii- 
arion  of  their  term  of  sei  \  i,  ,-,  the  nanus,, 1 
Ross  and  Denver  earned  iiioi  e  than  one  men- 
tion of  commendation  from  their  superior 
officers. 

Letters  to  the  girls  came  as  it  in  answer  to 
their  constant  praver.s  lor  their  lovers'  safe- 
ty ;  and,  flually,  came  theapprisal  of  their 
being  on  their  way  to  the  Federal  capital^  to 
make  good  their  vows,  their  allegiance  to 
another  cause  than  that  of  Uncle  Sam— the 
cause  of  love. 

In  those  busy  war  times  at  the  city  of 
Washington  there  was  a  brilliant  double 
weflding,  and  the  (;areer  of  Battery  Bob.  as 
such,  ended  wiien  he  led  fair  Ethel  to  the 
rosy  altar  of  Hymen. 

The  four,  Denver  and  his  bride,  Mildred, 
and  Ross,  with  his  bride,  Ethel,  entered  upon 
a  mutually  happy  life  from  that  date;  and 
whenever  the  tv>'o  heroes  talked  of  the 
dreadful  slaiight.r  that  oame  in  the  battles 
of  111,,  lalo  uui,  Ih.-v  1,-rvontly  thank.-,! 
H,-av,-n  l,,rits  kin,ln,>s  in    ],!vsorving  tli,'m 

ird  for  jiast   deeds 


THROUGH  DEATH  TO  LIBERTY. 


The  morning  of  October  12  I  was  taken — 
together  with  several  others  who  had  repre- 
sented themselves  as  enlisted  men,  we  learn- 
ing that  there  was  no  exchange  of  officers 


:,ffic 


ted  1 


same  as  olbor  oomuiissioued  oftioeis- to 
1','mberlnn  Prison,  a  five-story  double  brick 
biiihlingoue  block  below  Libby  aud  across 
the  street  from  it,  where  we  were  consigned 
to  the  fifth  story,  f  think  there  were  sixteen 
of  us. 

There  we  al'  did  duty  as  prisoners.  The 
bn-iin.'ss  of  t|,.  f.  ,i..n,",n  aud  afternoon  being 
■■  >..n  II  i-liiiii^  1,  L I  ;t>  iKO'ks,"  the  cracks  in 
111  I  work  above  and  in 

l:o  I  ■  '       I    ,         !  .  i;  -   alive  with  them. 

(I,  t, ,1m  I  ■■•a  ,  all  \> :;-  made  for  ■polunteers  to 


go  to  do  duty  in  some  of  the  prison  hos- 
pitals. 

I  volunteered  to  go,  aud  was  sent  to  Hos- 
pital No.  19,  which  was  the  headquarters  of 
the  Mo,IicalDiie<tor  of  Hospitals,  and  where 
tlo' I'll,  ,!,.!■  ii:u,-  ;i  stayed  at  nights.  The 
s,-,,,i.ii    ii  :.,i„'r    23,   a    soldier    was 

broiiui  I    '        I       :   1,1  been  wounded  in  the 

Au,pui,iii.,ii  lian  been  recently  performed, 
but  OH  ing  to  waut  of  proper  care  the  parts 
were  sloughing,  gangrene  was  threatened, 
the  bone  was  protruding,  and  the  sight  was  . 
sickening. 

The  chief  warden,  Martin  H.  Howard, 
called  me  aud  begged  me  to  go  and  see  what 
could  be  done.  I  dressed  and  went  and 
made  an  examination,  and  concluded  there 
was  some  tissue  left,  healthy  enough  to  risk 
another  flap,  and  that  what  was  done  must 
be  done  quickly. 
.1  weut  to  Surgeon  Wilkin's  quarters,  called 

an  amputalin-c  ,"->■,  ,.|o'.'  lb-  .luostinned  me 

asto  11, yiii, 'til, -.x.  1,0,1  f;av,,   m,,  an  order  on 

out  off  t  hob,'.,!'  "J 'o'l' o,v„I,",'''|s"li  1,TX'*' 
tic.  I'm-d,'  11"..','.;  '■'^^'M','-IaM'e''lo'okin'g  flapl 
and  1,11,  ,!_,,  II  iii,,;irnl  the  fourth  day  1 
hail   111,  I   '■    ;:.ii   ,,i   v,,ing  the  man  re- 

COViT  I      ■    '  ,111,1.   ,-t,'. 

(><-l"i  •  I  .!  .-Ill:;,, ,11  Wilkins  sent  for  me 
and  leiiiiesied  me  logo  to  Hospital  No.  21, 
and  lake  general  charge. 

There  were  three  rebel  doctors  assigned  to 
this  hospital,  who  came,  or  were  to  come, 
every  morning,  go  through  the  different 
wards  and  prescribe  for  the  patients. 

Prescriptions  were  written  in  a  book,  with 
the  number  of  bed,  section  and  ward,  and 
these  books  I  would  take  in  a  pillowslip,  as 
soon  03  ready,  go  to  No.  10,  alwavs  aciompa- 
nied  by  an  escort,  hand  1li,ni  tot  ho  steward, 
and  then  sit  down  or  g'l  al„,ut  tlio  hospital 
until  the  medicines  win-  ninlv.  1  then 
would  place  all  in  the  jiillow,  a'se  and  go 
back;  sometimes  the  escort  would  stop  to 
gossip  with  his  comrades,  but  I  would  keep 
on  alone. 

Adjoining  the  yard  in  which  was  the  hos- 


When  going  to  my  hospital  with  the  inedi- 


I  was  an  iinotoiate  smoker  in  those  days, 
and  always  had  my  pipe  in  my  mouth  when 
going  to  and  from  the  dispensary. 

On  the   afternoon  of  December  7,  at  two 


thauked  her  for. 

When  I  arrived  at  my  room  I  took  it  from 
the  pillowcase  and  found  it  to  be  a  handsome 
silk  tobacco  pouch,  cord  and  tassels,  and 
filled  with  cut  smoking  tobacco.  I  also 
found  a  piece  of  paper  in  it— a  note,  saying : 

"Soldier  of  the  United  States  .irmT.  meet  me  in  this 
baoli  yard  at  elRht  o'clock  to-night,  and  I  will  conduct 


As  I  raised  my  eyes  from  my  billet  deux  I 
saw  Iho  niirsi-s  carrvinc:  a  (le'ail  .-oldier  past 
my  door  to  the  dead-bonso,  and  tho  thought 
struck  me,  there,  that  iiiok  has  not  been 
tried  on  theiu  and  I  will  make  a  trial  of  it.  I 
summoned  the  chief  waidmaster,  H.  How- 
ard, and  fold  him  to  bring  three  others,  re- 
liable men  :  that  I  wanted  them  to  carry  me 
to  the  dead-house,  "toes  up." 

Within  ton  minutes  I  was  in  the  coffin,  in 
the  dea.d-honse,  whioh  was  outside  the  hos- 
pital yard  and  in  a  lumber  yard,  and  the 
cover  placed  over  the  coffin. 

There  I  lay,  afraid  to  stir,  fearing  that  if  a 
squad  of  men  came  with  another  corpse, 
they  not  knowing  of  my  ruse,  might  give  an 
alarm,  hence  the  necessity  of  remaining  in 
my  voluntary  prison. 

Occasionally  I  would  raise  the  lid  and 
place  it  on  one  side  for  ventilation,  but  re- 
place it  as  soon  as  footsteps  were  heard. 

Imagine  my  suspense;  there  were  twenty- 
three  corpses  brought  out  and  placed  in 
their  boxes  up  to  s.-vcn  o'clock. 

Asl  heard  tho  ,  iiv  ,  i,,,  1;  .-tiik,'  ibehour 
of  half-past  sivi  n.  1  ,|ui,|ly  iiii>.|,,-,l  aside 
the  lid,  and  a>  ,pii,ilv  rai.-oil  mysirlf  up,  a 
difficult  thing  to  do  in  view  of  haviugbeen 
confined  four  and  three-quarter  hours,  and 
being  more  dead  than  when  placed  there; 
but  liberty  was  my  stimulus,  and  I  got  up, 
stretched  my  weary  limbs,  flexed  and  con- 


THE  WAB  LIBRARY. 


tractedniy  nnisdes,  stepped  to   the  'loorto 
recounoii.i',    f.nind     only    a   boiircl    placed 


II-  «[>, 


gently  pii 
of  board. 


the  lower  end  of  his 


etout 


boldotthepieee 
side,  and  peered 

)ward  the  hospital  yard 

The  guard  had  gone  *- 

T  stepped  out,  closed  the  door,  placed  its 
prop  asaiust  it,  and  stealthily  went  down 
into  the  corner  of  this  lumber-yard  to  where 
there  was  a  brick  negro  liut,  whioli  belonged 
to  and  was  in  the  hospital  yard,  but  the  side 
of  which  looked  out  into  this  lumber-yard. 
There  weretwo  wiudowslookingout  toward 
me  from  this  hut,  and  as  I  wished  to  get  a 
suitof  gray,  which  I  had  had  made  by  the 
Degress  in  the  hut  out  of  a  pair  of  fine  gray 
army  blankets  for  emergency,  and  when  the 
guard  had  again  passed  down  his  beat,  I  tap- 
ped on  the  window,  and  immediately  the 
sash  went  up  and  a  man's  head  popped  out. 
My  heart  went  down  into  the  toes  of  my 
array  shoes. 

I  thought  it  was  the  ofBcer  of  the  guard 
who  had  been  watching  my  movements,  and 
also  thouiTht  the  negroes  had  betrayed  me, 
but  my  heart  soon  jumped  up  again  to  its 
normal  sphere  when  a  voice  from  the  head 
said  : 

"Is  that  you,  Doc?" 

"  Yes.    Who  are  you  ?"  says  I,  in  reply. 

"  It's  Harry,"  my  reliable  chief  wardmas- 
ter,  a  uoble  fellow,  six  feet  in  his  stockings 
and  a  heart  in  proportion. 

He  passed  out  my  clothes  and  I  doffed  the 
old  and  put  on  the  new,  and  passed  the  old 
ones  in  for  the  negress  to  dispose  of. 

Harry  then  came  out  and  we  stole  to  the 
rear  of  the  lumber-yard,  which  looked  out 
upon  an  alley. 

This  was  the  only  way 
unobserved. 

We  scaled  the  fence,  went  to  the  front 
street,  and  came  to  the  little  alley  leading  to 
the  back  yard  of  the  cottage. 

The  moon  was  shining  brightly  and  we 
found  no  place  of  hiding  in  the  yard,  and 
took  refuge  in  the  outhouse. 

While  there  the  little  lady  came  out  and 
looked  around,  but  it  was  not  eight  o'clock 
yet,  and  we  remained  in  hiding. 

She  went  back  into  the  house,  and  soon 
the  city  clock  struck  eight,  and  guards  hol- 

■'  Eight  o'clock,  post  Xo.  9,  and  all's  well," 
Soon  the  door  opeucil,  and  dut  came  our 
little  angel.  I  steppt-d  forward  toward 
her,  when  she  sprung  and  thrt-w  lier>flt  in 
mv  arms.  I  told  lier  of  my  companion,  and 
she  said,  "All  right.  I  wish  there  were 
more."  She  then  stated  she  did  not  live 
there ;  was  only  visiting  there  each  day ;  the 
geutlenian  washer  uncle,  and  as  she  had  not 
told  any  of  them  of  what  she  had  done,  she 
would  ill  IpmiI;  and  prepare  to  go  home.  Her 
uncle  would  aicomi>aiiv  lier;  she  would  go 
out  of  tin- front  gale,  iuid  when  we  heard 
her  sav,  •■  (iood-niglit,"  we  should  come  out 
in  the'street  and  follow  them.  She  would 
have  a  white  handkerchief  in  her  hand,  and 
this  we  were  to  follow  until  she  gave  the 
command  to  halt.  We  were  toted  to  the 
other  side  of  the  city,  and  when  they  came 
to  a  halt,  we,  being  about  fifty  feel  in  the 
rear,  also  halted.  We  had  many  zig-zags. 
because  the  gentleman  knew  where  guard 
were  placed,  and  crossed  a 
streets  many  times  to  relieve  us  from 
barrassments,  we  not  having  the  con 
sign. 


ossed 


le,  whii'.h  we  have  in  the  city  and 
i"liout  ilio  ^ioiiili,  and  a  place  can  be 
iri  ,1  l.ir  vou,  I    think  you   will  be  safe 

th.'ii  went  into  the  house,  partook  of  a 
supper,   and   were  assigned  to  a  bed— 
iich    a   heaven,  such  a   reaction  from 
what  had  been.  .^ 

About  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning,  De- 
cember S,  the  gentlemau  came  and  brought 
a  copy  ot  lite  Kioliinond  S''itUnel,  which  con- 
tain'i'l  -111  Miiouut  ol'  our  escape,  particularly 
mine,  headed  :     "A  Yankee  Trick,"  with  a 

"Tlic-'inidei  taker  had  gone  to  the  hospital 
at  twooCloel;  in  Ihe  morniugtoget  thedead 
bodies  lepoited  liv  the  officer  of  the  guard. 
He  sent  a  uiessiiiie  to  Captain  Turner,  the 
provo^t-niarslial,  who  went  there  with  his 
clerk   and  Ihev  [iroceeded  to  call  the  roll. 

The  sergeant-maii>r  of  the  Seventy-eighth 
Pennsylvania  infaiitiy,  who  was  jealous  for 
the  position  of  thief  ward  master,  gave  the 
wliole  thing  away  to  Captain  Turner. 

The  night  of  neceinber  9, 18B3,  we  were  es- 
corted by  the  gentleman  who  occupied  the 
cottage  beside  the  hospital  to  a  farmhouse 
three  miles  out  into  the  country  north, 
where  we  were  given  quarters  in  the  loft  of 
a  carriage-bouse.  ,     ,     ■  ^    ^ 

This  carriage-house  was  filled  with  straw 
in  its  lower  story,  but  the  loft  being  floored, 
we  had  ample  opporlunity  to  tramp    and 

There  was  a^  window  from  this  loft,  both 
front  and  l)ark.  protected  by  shutters  in- 
side, so  tliat  we  could  look  out  over  the 
count ly  and  see  up  and  down  the  road,  and 
could  see  auv  troopers  coming.  We  werefed 
three  times  a  day  by  the  proprietor  of  the 
farm,  he  bringing  our  meals  in  a  basket. 
The  weather  was  extremely  cold,  but  we 
had  burrowed  a  hole  for  ourselves  in  the 
straw  below,  and  during  the  nights  we  man- 
aged to  keep  warm. 

We  always  took  reliefs  of  sleeping,  one  re- 
raaiuing  awake  to  guard  against  alarm  or 
surprise  from  the  enemy. 

Through  the  gentleman  I  opened  corres- 
pondence with  the  Hon.  John  Miner  Botts, 
with  a  view  of  obtaining  a  pass  from  the 
Confederate  Secretarv  of  War.  Secretary 
Seddons.  December  1.'.  I  placed  in  the  liands 
of  this  gentleman  some  gieeiiliacl<s  fertile 
purpose  above  stated,  and  lieceinlier  1(.  lie 
brought  me  a  pass  for  myself  and  my  cniii- 
rade.  I  also  had  him  en-age  a  hack  tor  5>oO, 
I  'onfederate  money,  ti>  convey  us  to  the  ferry 
at   the   Uaiipahannock,   called    Sandy,   and 


iifte 


beard  full.  I  shaved  off  my  mustache  and 
beard,  leaving  only  side  whiskers,  and  at  six 
o'clock  the  hack  drove  up  to  the  door.  We 
bade  a  hearty  good-by  to  our  benefactors 
and  started,  oh  !  with  what  feelings,  w  e  had 
many  dangers  to  encounter,  Init  we  were  re- 
solved to  obtain  our  liberty.  We  arrived  at 
a  country  tavern  about  ten  o'ctlod;,  where 
the  driver  proposed  to  stay  till  iiKii-ning.  N\  e 
got  supper,  and  had  just  steppeil  out>i(lethe 
house  when  another  hack  drove  up,  contaiu- 
ntleman  dressed  in  the  uniform  of  a 
■states  officer,  with  a  captain's  shoul- 
lis,  accompanied  by  two  ladies— one 
-  and  the  other  a    nurse— and    two 


illage  or 


tol  to  his  ear  and  a 
is  hand  prevailed, 
lie  morning  ot  De- 
,i„at  the  door  of 
man  Sandy.    His 


When'  lie  lanie  in  I  gave  him  several  hot 
I>unches,  and  got  him  to  get  the  ferry  ready, 

The  water  was  liigh  and  the  current  swift, 
and  much  ice  made  it  hard  work,  but  at  day- 
light we  lauded  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  on 

We  learned  from  the  darky  that  his  master 
had  only  one  team  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
vevin-- passengers  from  the  Rappahannock 
to  "the  Potomac,  and  we  engaged  it  then  and 

As%oon  as  we  landed  he  hitched  up  the 
mules,  and  we  started.  When  about  four 
miles  on    our  route,  just  at  a  -        ''- 

where  there  was  a  sort  of  a  v 
business  jtlace  belnn-iiiL'  to  ap 
sisting  of  a  store,  blacksniitli  >ho 
we  were  oveiiakeii  \)y  a  man  on 

hotel  and  ferry,  the 

C.  S.  detective.  , ,  ,    .  ^^ 

He  stopped  our  team,  told  us  that  there 
were  five  other  passengers  who  wished  to  go 
to  the  Potomac,  and  as  he  had  only  the  one 
team  and  wagon  we  woulii  have  to  tlismount 
and  wait  till  the  driver  went  l.ink  for  them. 
As  there  was  no  other  altcTiiative  without 
trouble,  we  got  out  and  went  up  to  where 
an  old  darky  had  a  fire  built  and  was  boiling 
tar,  where  we  warmed  ourselves  and  got 
what  information  we  could  from  the  nig  as 
to  shortest  routes  to  where  certain  darkeys- 
Just  then  a  gentleman  in  full  Confederate 
uniform  came  riding  down  the  cross  roads, 
who  the  darky  informed  us  was  his  in  aster 
and  that  1  e  was  the  provost-marshal  of  that 
district,  but  that  he  had  no  soldiers  under 

In  a  short  time  my  comrade  and  I  filledi 
and  lighted  our  pipes  and  started  to  wall 
on,  when  this  officer  rode  up   ' -"i.....-i 


saluted, 
me  his 


cesstnl 
and  he 
pulsivi 


'I 


IS  taken 
^en  suc- 
.  herself 


make  no  preparations   to-night  for 
fe  hiding.    You  will  of  necessity  haye 


o  go  into  ner  father's  house,  and 
to-night,  and  perhaps  longer,  till  I  can,  aft 
consulting    with  the  officers  of   the  Unit 


:  a  gt 


The  captain  and  I  saluted  each  other,  en- 
gaged in  a  brief  conversation,  and  I  learned 
he^was  not  a  United  States  soldier. 

This  was  only  a  disguise.  He  was  running 
the  blockade  to  Baltimore:  was  intending  to 
place  his  family  there  for  safe  keeping  till 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  from  my  driver  I 
learned  his  name  was  Captain  Moffet,  and 
that  he  was  an  officer  on  General  Winder's 
staff  Winder  being  the  commandant  of  the 
Post'ot  Richmond. 

I  called  up  mv  comrade,  and  we  went  to 
the  stables  and  f  (uind  our  driver  and  ordered 
him  to  drive  us  at  once  to  the  Rappahan- 
nock. 


had  left  to  halt  us,  and  as  he  joined  him  he 
said  : 
"  They  are  all  right,  and   their  passes  are 

^So  then  we  walked  on,  passed  the  mill,  and; 
were  soon  hidden  from  their  view.  We  met 
a  darkv,  who  seemed  intelligent,  and  he 
gave  ns"  a  great  deal  ot  infoiination,  which 
enabled  us  to  stiorten  onr  distance  to  the 
point  at  the  Potomac  where  we  wished    to 

^  We  arrived  at  the  house  of  the  first  block- 
ade runners,  whose  name  was  given  us,  but 
he  was  out;  had  gone  across  the  river  four 
days   before,    and    his    wife  feared    for  hi.s. 

^"we  secured  lodging;  with  her  for  the  night, 
and  the  next  morning  she  directed  us  to  a 
colored  man,  who  was  home,  and  who  was  a 
successful  blockade  runner,  and  said  we 
might  engage  him,  using  her  name. 

We  sought  him  and  seiaired  him  for  the 
sum  of  fifty  dollars  in  greenbacks. 

Head  winds  were  against  any  attempt  to 
cross,  but  the  night  of  December  'iO  we  start- 
ed and  at  midnight  lauded  safely  on  the 
Maryland  shore  at  a  point  near  Leonard- 
town,  and  were  rowed  by  another  party  to 
the  town,  where  we  took  a  government  boat 
to  Washington,  arriving  there  the  morning 
of  Christmas  Day,  reported  In  person  to 
Secretary  Stanton,  who  called  in  General 
Haileck  and  General  Thomas,  got  a  letter  to 
pass  the  guard,  admitting  me  into  the  pres- 
ence of  President  Lincoln  and  his  amiable, 
motherly  wife,  and  then  I  realized  I  was. 
again  free." 


24 


THE  WAB  LIBRARY. 


TIE  WAR  LIBRARY 


Contains  Historic  Tales  of  the  War  for  the  Union, 
ures,  love,    intrigue  and  patriotism- 


Original,  full  of  life,  daring  advent- 


The  Unwritten  History  of  the  War. 

Historically  true,  as  to  dates  and  occurrences;  graphically  true  as  regards  possibilities,  these  tales  wUl  interest  as  well 
as  entertain  the  reader.  To  the  veteran,  who  will  fight  his  battles  over  between  the  lines,  as  well  as  the  rising  generation 
ever  eager  to  read  of  deeds  of  patriotism  and  heroism,  this  Library  will  be  a  welcome  visitor. 

The  War  Library  is  issued  weekly,  complete  in  each  number.  Fresh  and  original,  it  occupies  a  new  field,  and  is 
free  from  ultra  partisanship.     Price  ten  cents  a  copy. 


0-A.T-A.X-OOXJE3  oi^  THE!  -s7^.A.n.  i:.i:on..A.n.-y^. 

eg-PIONEER  PETE;  or.  Always   at 

the  Front.    A    Story  of  the  Wilderness 
Campaigrn.    By  Morris  Redwing. 
70-UNI0N  JACK;  or,  Heroes  in  Blue. 

A  Story   of  the  Great  Railroad  Chase.    By 
Ward  Edwards,  High  Private,  V.  S.  V. 


I  -MAJOR  HOTSPUR.  Vy  Marline  Manly 
2-BLUE  ORCRAY.  By  Ward  Edwards. 
3-CAVALRY  SAM.  ByCapt.  M.Wilton. 
4-ON  TO  RICHMOND.  By  Maj.  Grant- 
5-VICKSBURC.  By  Corporal  M.  Hoyne. 
6-SHILOH.  By  Wiinl  Edwards,  tl.  S.  V. 
7-BULLET   AND  BAYONET.    Wilton. 

8  SHARPSHOOTER   DICK.    Grant. 

9  PRISON    PEN.     Hy  Marline  Manly. 
ID    BIVOUAC  AND  BATTLE.    Hoyne. 

I  I     BEFORE   DONELSON.  E.L.Vincent. 
12    SOLD  FOR  A    SOLDIER.     Edwards. 
13'TRUE  BLUE.    By  -M"Jor  A.  F.  Grant. 
14    CROSSED  SWORDS.    Morris  Hoyne. 
15-  FIGHTING   PAT.     By  Bernard  Wayde. 

16  UNDER    TWO     FLAGS.     Redwing. 

17  STARS  AND  STRIPES.    Warren. 

18  BATTLE  ECHOES;.    Brisbane. 

19  ~  •  •■"■'^•"".ER  BOB.    Maj.  A.  F.  Grant. 

20  JEN.     By  .Morris  Redwing. 
2!  R-STRAPS.    Wilmot. 

22  ,  NES.     iiy  Warren  Walters. 

23  ■-./--  ND  SPUR.     ByMonMyrtle. 

24  FIGHTING    FOR  FAME.    Redwing. 

25  DASHING  O'DONOHOE.    Carlton. 

26  IRON  ANDSTEEL.  .Major  A .  F.  Grant. 

27  THE    FATAL    CARBINE.    Wilmot. 

28  MALVERN  HILL.    .Morris  Hoyne. 

29  GUNBOAT    DAVE.    Redwing. 

30  RIVAL  CAPTAINS.    Oram  Ellor. 

31  HARD-TACK.  Major  WaltPF  Brisbane. 
32-YANKEE  STEVE.  -M-ni.-.  K.^wingr. 
33-FARRAGUT'S  SPY.  A  1  Ciant. 
34-MISSION  RIDGE.  By  Maj.. r  wilmot. 
35-CHAIN-SHOT.  By  Colonel  oram  Eflor. 
36  FIVE  FORKS.  By  Corporal  M.  Hoyne. 
37-CAPTAlN    I  RON  WRIST.    By    Major 

Walt.r  WiiiiKit, 
38-THE  LOST  CAUSE.    By  M.  Redwing. 
39-CAMP   FIRES.     By    Wurr.-n   Walters. 
40    MORGAN'S  ROUGH-RIDERS.    Iiy 

41-BETWEEN  THE  LINES.     By    Munis 

42    THE  CAVALRY  GUIDE;  or.  In  the 

Saddle   and    Bivouac     A    Thrilling 
Homance  of  the  Great  South-side  liaid.     By 
.John  W.  Southard. 
43-HARPER'S  FERRY;  or.  From  the 
Chevron  to  Shoulder-straps.    By 

Major  Walter  Wilmot. 

44   SHERIDAN'S  RIDE  ;  or,  The  Bat- 
tlefield of  Cedar  Creek.    A  Thrilling 

Narrative  of  the    Shenandoah    Valley.     By 


CLEAR    GRIT;    or,   A   Soldier    in 

Blue.     Bv  Maii'iif  Maiilv. 

THE  RIVAL  COURIERS;  or,  CBr- 

rying  Grant's  Dispatches,    a  story 

of  the  War  in  the  Old  Dominion.  By  Harry 
St.  George. 

BEFORE  PETERSBURG  ;  or.  The 
Yankee    Cannoneer.     A    Story   of 

U>i'  s  Uist  1  aiiipais-'n.    By  Majoi  .\.  F.  Grant. 

DOWN  IN  DIXIE;  or.  Perilous 
Adventures  of  a  War  Correspon- 
dent. A  Story  of  Stoneman's  Raid  and 
Gettysburg.  By  Hugh  Allen,  of  the  New 
York  press. 


49~LIBBY  PRISON;  or.  In  theShades 

of  Death.     A    Thrilling  Story    of    Raid. 
Prison  and  Swam]>.     Iiy  Colonel  Oram  Eflor 

50-WAR'S  ALARM;  or,  Adventures 
of  a  Young  Lieutenant,   .^  Rattling 

.story  of  the  Aiivanee  on   Viiksburg.    By 


Moi 


Redv 


UNDER  FIRE; 

and  Cray.    -\  T 

tie  of  Rich  Mounts 
ris. 


or.  Rivals  in  Blue 

Hilling  Story  of  the  Bat 
n.     By  Anthony  P.  Mor 


52-MARCHINC  ON  ;  or.  From  the 
Rapidan  to  Cold   Harbor.    A  story 

of  the  Terrible   Battles  of  the   Wildernes.s. 
By  Marline  Manlv 
53-SWORD  AND  SASH;  or,  Through 
Flame  to  Fame.    A  Story  of  Freder- 
icksburg and  Chan.cllorsville.  By  Mon  Myr- 

54  BORDER  GUERRILLAS  ;  or.  The 

Rivals  of  Pea  Ridge.    -^  Tale  of  the 
War  in  Arkaiisius.     llv  C.rporal  M.  Hoyne. 

55  MOSBY'S  TRAIL;  or,  Cuerrillas 
of  the    Potomac.     By  .Morris  Redwing. 

56  BLACK  CUDJO  ;  or,  The  Contra- 
band Spy.  A  Thrilling  Stnry  of  the  Fort 
Pillow  Ma.ssa.n-.     Bv  I.ieut.  Keene,  U.  S.  A. 

57-BRAVE  COLONEL  KELLY;  or. 
The  Horrors  of  War.  By  Bernard 
Wayde. 

58  ISLAND  NUMBER  TEN;  or.  The 
Trail  of  War.     By  S.  M.  Fra/.ier. 

59  WINNING  HIS  SPURS;  or,  Old 
Pap    Thomas'    Trust,    a  story    of 

Nashville.     Bv  Morris  Redwing. 
60-A  YANKEE    MIDDY;    or.  Hero  of 

the    Blockade.      By     Ward    Edwards 

"  High  Private,"  r.S.V. 
6 1 -COLD   HARBOR;   or.    The    Blaze 

of    Battle.      A    Thrilliii-    Sf.ry     of    the 

Chickaliominy.     By  K.iland  Dare. 

62  FIGHTING  JOE  HOOKER;or,  The 
Battle  Above  the  Clouds.  A  Thril- 
ling story  of  Lookout  Mountain.  By  Mar- 
line Manly. 

63  BOMB  PROOF;  or.  Dying  in  the 
Last  Ditch,  a  Tale  of  Petersburg.  By 
Anthonv  P.  Morris. 

64~A  SOLDIER  OF  FATE;  or,  Phil 
Kearny's  Last  Charge.   An  E.\citing 

Tale  of  the   Second    Bull    Run    Battle.    By 


65  CUSTER  AND  HIS  MEN  ;  or.  The 
Bold  Riders  of  Virginia.  By  Marline 

Manly. 

66  THE     ARMY      DETECTIVE;     or, 

Following  a  War  Mystery.  A  story 
of  Secret  Service  Life  during  the  Rebellion. 
Bt  Colonel  Oram  Eti„r. 

67-IN  FOR  THE  WAR  ;  or,  The  Forts 

of  the  Mississippi.  A  Romance  of 
Thrilling  Adventure  Afloat  and  .\,shore.  By 
Ward  Edwards,  "  High  Private,"  T',  S.  V. 

68~OLD  POTOMAC;  or,  The  Retreat 
from  Richmond.  A  Rattling  Tale  of 
the  Seven  Days'  Battles.  By  Colonel  Law- 
rence Leslie,  Staff  Officer. 


7  1-OUT  WITH  KILPATRICK;  or. 
The    Dashing    Yankee    Raiders. 

A  Rattling  Record  of  Adventure  in  the  Cav- 
alry Ser^■icc.    By  Lieutenant  Keene,  U.  S.  A. 
72    ROUGH    AND    READY;    or.    Into 
the  Cannon's   Mouth.    A  story  of 

the  Carnage  at  Gettysburg.  By  A.  1'.  Morris. 

73-THE  SKY   SCOUTS;  or,  Balloon- 

ingforthe  Union.  A  Lively  Tale  of 
Adventure  during  the  Late  War.  By  Colo- 
nel Oram  Eflor. 

74 -DARING  MICKEY  LOFTUS;  or,  A 
Blundering  Irish  Soldier.  A  Hu- 
morous and  Thrilling  story  of  the  War  in 
the  West.    By  Sergeant  Miles  McCann. 

75--SKIRMISHER  SAM  ;  or.  Fighting 
with  Sherman.  A  Rousing  story  of 
the  March  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta.  By 
.\leck  Forbes,  "  War  f^orrespondent." 

76-FORT  SUMTER  ;  or.  The  Open- 
ing Guns  of  War.  By  Major  A.  F. 
Grant. 

77FACING  THE  FOE;  or,  The  Hun- 
ted Spy.  .-i  story  of  Battle  and  Advent- 
ure in  Virginia.    By  Ward  Edwards. 

78  VETERAN  DAN;  or.  The  Old  Hero 
of  Sharpsburg.  .\  story  of  Lee's  Inva- 
3i.>u  of  Maryland.     By  Morris  Redwing. 

79  WILSON'S  CREEK;  or,  "l  Fights 

mit  Sigel."     By    Duke  Duncan,   of    the 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 
BOUNDER    GUARD;    or,    Raid    and 
Battle    in    Kentucky.     By   Corporal 


Hoy 


81     BATTERY     BOB;   or,   Crest  and 

Plain   at   Fredericksburg.    By  An- 
thony P.  Morris. 
82-SICNAL  SERVICE  SAM  ;  or.   The 
Siege  of  Knoxville.    By  Ward  Edwards, 
•'  High  Private,"  U.  S.  V. 


Catalogue  Pocket  Edition  War  Library. 


I -THE   WAR    DETECTIVE.    By  Major 

A.  F.  Grant. 
2-BATTLE    SMOKE.     By  Hugh  Allen. 
3-UNDER  THE  STARS  AND   BARS. 

By  Mon  Myrtle. 

4-OLD    FUSEE.    By  Anthony  P.  Morris. 

5-LOYAL  NED.     By  Maj.  A.  F.Grant. 

6    FREDERICKSBURG.    By  A.  Forbes. 

7-BURNT    POWDER.    By  A.  P.  Morris. 

8-A  NIGHT  IN  DIXIE.    By  J.  M.  Merrill. 

9-PITTSBURG    LANDING.    Duncan. 
lO-FORT  FISHER.    By  Major  A.  F.  Grant. 
II-THE    SHENANDOAH    RIDER.    Br 

Anthony  P.  Morris. 
12-THE    COLOR-BEARER.    By  Forbes. 


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year;  single  copy,  by  mail,  ten  cents.  Address, 

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